Movie Name : Ranabaali
Release Date : October 16, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Arnold Vosloo, and Others
Director : Rahul Sankrityan
Producers : Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Music Director : Ajay-Atul
Cinematographers : Jishnu Bhattacharjee, Nirav Shah
Editor : Karthika Srinivas R
Related Links : Trailer
Vijay Devarakonda joined hands with Rahul Sankrityan for the period action drama Ranabaali. Rashmika played the female lead. The movie hit the big screens today, and let’s see how it is.
Story:
Set in the 1860s, Ranabaali throws light on the famine caused by the British in the Madras Presidency. By looting tons of food grains from India and transporting them to Britain, the British cause the deaths of countless Indians. A legend named Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali (Vijay Deverakonda), born on Rayalaseema soil, revolts against the British generals, becoming a thorn in their side. Who wins the final battle in this war between Ranabaali and the British is what the movie is about.
Plus Points:
Appreciation to Rahul Sankrityan for touching upon the famine and the events that followed, which claimed many lives. The sincerity is visible, with the makers attempting to tell an important chapter of history.
The movie picks up momentum pretty well with the Jayamma chapter. Rashmika and Vijay Deverakonda’s romance is the sweet spot in this serious drama. The innocence of Jayamma’s character and her attempts to bring a change in her stone-hearted husband are endearing to watch.
The romantic track is followed by some fine emotional moments, leading to a decent interval block. Vijay Deverakonda is earnest in his performance as a rebel leader. The way he has approached the intense action sequences is very good. Rashmika Mandanna impresses as Jayamma, and she continues to deliver fine performances one after another.
Minus Points:
Some important stories like Ranabaali need to be told, but the major problem with this Vijay Devarakonda starrer is that it doesn’t deliver the required impact towards the end. The powerful intent behind the story isn’t effectively translated onto the screen.
Ranabaali looks more or less like other films set against the British backdrop. The famine is its USP, but the screenplay follows familiar terrain in the second half, making things highly predictable. The director comes up with a couple of twists, but by then, the engagement factor fizzles out.
The action sequences in the latter half get repetitive after a point. Had the story been told in a much shorter duration, the end result would have been far better. The editing team could have easily cut down at least 20 minutes.
Some of the moments intended to deliver highs are weakened by the poor background score. Also, some scenes suffer from sound-mixing issues. British generals speaking Telugu feels a bit uncomfortable, especially since the team promised an organic approach to this aspect during promotions.
Technical Aspects:
Ajay-Atul’s work is a mixed bag. The songs are nicely composed, but the background score is completely disappointing. As a result, the movie fails to deliver goosebump-inducing moments. The cinematography by Jishnu Bhattacharjee and Nirav Shah is splendid.
The production values are remarkable, with Mythri Movie Makers spending lavishly on the sets to give the film’s world an authentic feel. The editing is poor.
Rahul Sankrityan’s direction is just okay. His intention to deliver a meaningful film is clear, but the execution isn’t up to the mark. The boring moments and a lengthy runtime weigh down the movie.
Verdict:
On the whole, Ranabaali is a period action drama that features sincere effort but delivers only a moderate impact. The famine concept hasn’t been explored before, and the first half is decent. However, the movie gets bogged down by a predictable and below-par second half. The narrative choices aren’t great, and the lengthy runtime is another major shortcoming. Vijay Deverakonda delivers an honest performance, but the movie doesn’t completely live up to its potential.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team