Vijay Deverakonda, Rajkummar Rao set for Oct 16 box-office ‘takkar’

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Period action film ‘Ranabaali’ takes on Courtroom drama ‘Prahaar’ in festive-season showdown

Chandigarh: Two films with contrasting themes, courtroom battles and resistance against British rule, are set to compete at the box office on Friday, i.e., October 16, with “Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujwal Nikam” and “Never Forget Ranabaali” targeting audiences during the festive season.

Starring Rajkummar Rao, “Prahaar” centres on the courtroom battles of special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam, known for handling high-profile cases, including those related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Maddock Films, the film also features Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat and Lalit Prabhakar.

In contrast, “Ranabaali”, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, is a period action drama featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna. Set against the backdrop of the Great Madras Famine of the 1870s, the film follows a folk hero who rises against British colonial oppression. Deverakonda plays Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali, while Mandanna portrays his wife, Jayamma. Hollywood actor Arnold Vosloo features as British antagonist Sir Theodore Hector.

With music by Ajay-Atul and large-scale action sequences, “Ranabaali” is positioned as a pan-India theatrical release. Its promotional campaign also includes “Never Forget The Truth”, a documentary series exploring historical narratives.

The competing releases have prompted online comparisons, with Deverakonda recently describing the hostility surrounding film rivalries as “manufactured hate”.

The two films offer different theatrical propositions, with “Prahaar” focusing on the pursuit of justice and “Ranabaali” on resistance and sacrifice.