Vijay Deverakonda Delivers an Emotional Speech at ‘Ranabaali’ Trailer Launch

"A Forgotten History That Deserves to Be Celebrated": Vijay Deverakonda and Team Unleash ‘Ranabaali’ Trailer in Hyderabad

"Born Out of Anger and Anguish" — Director Rahul Sankrityan Unpacks the Lore

"After Shyam Singha Roy, an ancient Rayalaseema Burrakatha found its way to me. Long before cinema existed, our ancestors passed down the deeds of warriors who spoke to deities, fought brutal invaders, and led mass rebellions through oral traditions.

When I researched the historical foundation behind that folklore, I uncovered the Great South Indian Madras Famine of the late 19th century—a catastrophe that starved nearly one crore of our ancestors to death across Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra, Telangana, Mysore, and Tamil Nadu. Today, we panic if a food delivery takes longer than five minutes. Imagine what our people endured when an empire hoarded grain while millions perished. Ranabaali was born directly out of that raw anger and anguish. Vijay dedicated four straight years to embody this warrior, mastering horse riding, sword craft, and the rustic Rayalaseema dialect."

"The Greatest Script in Telugu Cinema This Year" — Vijay Deverakonda

"The history they concealed from us, the heroes they didn't want us to remember, preserved only in folk songs—Ranabaali arrives on October 16 to celebrate those warriors on the big screen. The moment Rahul narrated this script, I knew it was the most compelling piece of writing to emerge from Telugu cinema this year.

From the sheer grit of Ranabaali to Jayamma, Hector, and the village of Shinganamala—which happens to be my mother's native place—Rahul built a universe grounded in raw heroism. This film will stand as a towering highlight of my career. Families need to watch this in theatres to understand what our ancestors survived so we could stand here today."

"To those constantly coordinating negativity on social media: if my ambition looks unnecessary to you, should I stop dreaming? If my honesty looks like arrogance, should I shrink myself? If my drive is misunderstood, should I sit quietly at home? I will not change. Focus on bettering your own lives and uplifting your families instead of spending energy trying to pull others down."

Mythri Producers Back Vijay's Sincerity and Craft

• Authentic World-Building: Ravi Shankar pointed out that Rahul spent nearly two years working out of their office solely refining the research, dialect, and period aesthetics, ensuring the final visual cut matched historical truth.
• On Vijay’s Dedication: Calling out unnecessary social media chatter, Ravi Shankar defended the actor’s quiet professionalism: "We have worked closely with Vijay for eight years. He is soft-spoken, intensely focused on his craft, and interferes in no one's business. Before judging a period drama from behind a screen, watch the film on October 16—his performance in the Rayalaseema dialect and the sheer grandeur of the film will speak for itself."
• Rashmika as Jayamma: The producers also praised Rashmika Mandanna’s compelling turn as Jayamma, celebrating her long-standing relationship with the banner following hits like Dear Comrade and the Pushpa franchise.