Ranabaali opens with Rs 9 crore net as Rahul Sankratiyan defends long runtime

Ranabaali, the period drama starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, earned a Rs 7 crore share from Rs 9 crore net in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on its first day, according to a distributor. He put the opening down to the pairing of the two stars and the buzz from the pre-release promotions.

Reactions have been mixed. Vijay's work has won praise, and the distributor said the actor carried the film on his own. Some viewers, though, felt it runs too long.

Director Rahul Sankratiyan is standing by his choices. Speaking to reporters, he predicted Ranabaali would become a hit and said it was never made to chase records or collections. Its purpose, he said, is to show audiences a part of history they have not been told. Running long was a deliberate risk, taken to build the Ranabaali world in detail, and he believes it is now working in the film's favour.

The Dasara holidays will matter most, the distributor said, because the film has to do well over that stretch to grow its collections. He also felt the romance between Vijay and Rashmika needed more screen time to balance the scenes of British cruelty. Telugu audiences, he noted, have already seen films built around that brutality.

His advice to the lead was blunt. Vijay should tour theatres across both Telugu states to promote the film, or things could get tough.