Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s Ranabaali has been one of the most anticipated films, with Rahul Sankrityan directing and Mythri Movie Makers backing the project. The promotional content created huge expectations, especially with its period setting, intense violence and story rooted in the British era.
With such a promising backdrop and a popular lead pair, expectations were high. But does the film deliver what it promises?
The Story
Set between 1854 and 1878, the film follows Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali (Vijay Deverakonda), the heir to a local chieftain’s family. After being born without a breath, he is believed to have received a blessing from Bhadra mallanna Swamy, granting him a limited lifespan.
Ranabaali grows up as a carefree man who spends much of his time drinking and avoids responsibility. He marries Jayamma (Rashmika Mandanna), who tries to change his ways. However, when Ranabaali witnesses the suffering caused by a devastating famine in the Madras region, his outlook begins to change.
What makes him take up the fight for the famine affected people? How does he stand against British officials? And what happens to Ranabaali in the end?
What Works
Vijay Deverakonda gives a good performance as Ranabaali. He tries to get into the character and brings the required intensity to a few scenes. Rashmika Mandanna is good as Jayamma, though her role and screen time are limited.
Lal, who plays Bhadra mallanna, makes an impression despite appearing in only a few scenes. The actor playing the antagonist also does a decent job, while the supporting cast performs adequately.
The film has a few good visuals, and some individual scenes create an impact. The art department deserves credit for recreating the period setting, while the cinematography makes an effort to bring that era to the screen. The songs and background score suit the film’s atmosphere in parts.
These are some of the few aspects that work. Unfortunately, they aren’t enough to make the overall experience satisfying.
What Doesn’t
To be frank, very little works in Ranabaali as a complete film.
The basic idea has potential. A local chieftain who witnesses the suffering of famine affected people and eventually stands against British authorities could have made for a powerful historical drama. But having a good story on paper and making it work on screen are two different things.
Rahul Sankrityan struggles to turn this idea into an engaging cinematic experience. The narration is the biggest problem. Instead of building the emotional connection required for a story of this scale, the film keeps moving through situations without making the audience feel deeply connected to them.
The excessive violence is another issue. The promotional content already hinted at a violent film, but the actual experience makes it difficult to connect with the story at times. Violence can work when it serves the narrative, but here it often feels excessive, while the emotions behind the characters’ struggles don’t land as strongly as they should.
The film also feels too familiar in its treatment of the British versus local resistance theme. There is nothing particularly fresh in the way these conflicts are presented. More importantly, the screenplay fails to make the familiar elements feel compelling.
The runtime makes things worse. Several portions feel stretched, and the film could have been much tighter. The emotional moments that should have been the backbone of the story don’t create the expected impact. As a result, the movie becomes a tiring watch despite having an interesting backdrop.
The visuals deserve some credit, and a few scenes look good. But beyond those moments, the film struggles to hold attention. Good production design and a sincere lead performance cannot compensate for weak narration and a lack of emotional engagement.
Even the technical aspects, which have some positives, cannot save the film. The songs, BGM and cinematography work in patches, but none of them consistently elevate the material.
The biggest disappointment is that Ranabaali feels more like an idea that could have made a good film than a film that has actually succeeded in bringing that idea to life.
Final Take
Ranabaali is a disappointing watch despite its promising premise and a few good visuals and scenes. Weak narration, excessive violence, familiar storytelling and a lack of emotional impact make it difficult to stay engaged. Vijay Deverakonda puts in a sincere effort, but the film itself doesn’t work.
Rating: 2/5
