# Ranabaali draws mixed reactions over its runtime and Kantara-style climax

Published 2026-10-17T16:35:58Z

> Vijay Deverakonda's Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, opened on October 16 to mixed responses, with viewers questioning its long runtime and a spiritual possession climax that many say repeats the Kantara template.

Vijay Deverakonda's Ranabaali opened in theatres on October 16 to mixed responses. Since then, two complaints have led the talk: how long the film runs and how its climax is staged.

Rahul Sankrityan directs the patriotic drama, which pairs Vijay with Rashmika. It looks at how British colonial policies caused man-made famines and disasters, a subject that has interested the director for a long time.

The runtime draws the most criticism. Many viewers feel tighter editing would have helped, mainly in the portions that slow the pace. Rahul and producer Ravi Shankar have reportedly stood by the length, and there is no word yet on whether the team will trim the film. Weekend collections will play a big part in how it does at the box office.

In the climax, Vijay is spiritually possessed and fights the villains. Social media users say filmmakers have kept borrowing this setup since Kantara in 2022. They point to Suriya's Karuppu, where the scene fit a spiritual film, and to Nivin Pauly's Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, which played it as a spoof. Many felt Nani's The Paradise was where the idea went too far, as director Srikanth Odela's possession fight became troll material online.

Netizens now want filmmakers to drop the template and try something new. Many credit Rishab Shetty's conviction and research for making the original work in Kantara. They add that even he could not recreate that impact when he used the style again in the sequel.

## Related titles
- [Ranabaali](https://clapnumber.com/movies/ranabaali)

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Source: https://clapnumber.com/news/ranabaali-draws-mixed-reactions-over-its-runtime-and-kantara-style-climax
Retrieved: 2026-10-17