Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s long-anticipated film Ranabaali has finally arrived with high expectations. Rahul Sankrityayan’s period drama produced by Mythri Movie Makers portrays the difficulties of people living under British rule. the main question is, does the film deliver on the expectations? Let’s see what the review has to say.
Ranabaali Story
Set between 1854 and 1878, Ranabali tells the story of a local chieftain from Singanamala Bobbili (Vijay Deverakonda). He was born dead and received life as a gift from Bhadramallanna Swamy, along with a limited amount of time to live which is 24 years.
Despite his position in society, Ranabali continues being irresponsible and wastes his life until his family decides that it is time for him to settle down. They get him married to Jayamma (Rashmika Mandanna), believing that she will help him change his ways. But the chieftain’s life revolves around him witnessing the horrific aftermath of a terrible famine in the Madras region.
How will Ranabali cope with the responsibility of saving his people from the ruthless British rulers? That’s the point that the film is trying to show.
Ranabaali Review
With an interesting concept and a great potential to perform, Ranabali is a period drama that somewhat disappoints the audience with its unrealized actions on screen. Despite the fascinating storyline, the film’s execution does not always live up to the task.
Ranabali contains too much violence and blood, making some parts of the movie unpleasant to watch. Though the brutal elements are necessary to emphasize the authentic atmosphere in which the story takes place, a less horrifying approach would have been more effective in portraying the key moments of the film.
British oppression and its continuous conflicts with natives who refuse to follow their rules have been a popular theme in Indian cinema for decades. Ranabali does not deviate from the norm in terms of concepts. The film portrays a similar narrative, except this time, the chieftain realizes that it is his responsibility to protect his village from the ruthless British Government. Even though the idea is intriguing, the film’s lengthy runtime and unsatisfactory narrative make it challenging to deliver the key message efficiently.
However, not everything is bad about this movie. In fact, Ranabali does not seem as disappointing as the social media buzz suggests. It has enough positive aspects to keep you entertained throughout the entire film length. Moreover, if you are a fan of period dramas and do not expect a conventional Vijay Deverakonda starrer, you are highly likely to enjoy this movie.
Performances
Vijay Deverakonda gives a satisfying performance, whereas Rashmika Mandanna seems gorgeous even in her small role as Jayamma. Lal is outstanding as Bhadramallanna, and the actor who plays the role of the antagonist is also worth mentioning. Vivek Sagar and Kancharapalem Kishore act well within their roles, and the rest of the cast manages to deliver satisfying performances as well.
Technical Aspects
The film’s cinematography effectively portrays the specified era. Notably, songs and background score enhance the viewing experience and provide additional meaning to the depicted story. The art department deserves a special mention for creating memorable sets that managed to avoid the “over-designed” look.
However, some aspects of the film could have been improved. For instance, more attention should have been paid to the editing and shorter runtime.
Ranabaali Rating: 2.75/5
Ranabaali Verdict
An honest attempt at making a period film about human struggles and bravery in times of oppression: Vijay Deverakonda plays a unique and risky role, but the film’s excessive violence and unsatisfactory narrative is preventing it from achieving greater success.