S Shyam Prasad
In a press conference held by Geetha Pictures earlier this week, it was announced that the highly anticipated film, Bhairathi Ranagal, directed by Nartan, and featuring Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar in the lead role, will be released on August 15, Independence Day.
Members of the film crew revealed that “Bhairathi Ranagal” is a prequel to the film “Mufti,” which was released six years ago. Recalling that there was uncertainty about who would play the the special character in “Mufti,” Shiva Rajkumar expressed his initial hesitation as he was unsure if he would be suitable for the character. Eventually, the director, Nartan, convinced him to take on the role. Now, the success of the film and the character in particular has led to the creation of a standalone film narrating the origin story of the ‘Bhairathi Ranagal’ character.
Regarding the storyline, Nartan explained that “Bhairathi Ranagal” delves into the backstory of the character Bhairathi Ranagal and explores why he becomes who he is. The simplicity and authenticity of the narrative were highlighted during the discussion.
Shiva Rajkumar addressed questions about his costume in the film, stating that it is integral to the character’s development. He recalled that during the making of “Mufti,” there were concerns about his weight gain affecting the role. However, the narrative naturally incorporated these changes, leading to the creation of “Bhairathi Ranagal.” The costume of the character from Mufti was copied by various stars in other film industries including Rajinikanth in Tamil and Balakrishna in Telugu.
With 70% of the film already completed, the team is gearing up for the release on August 15. Geetha Shiva Rajkumar, the producer, emphasized that the release date was chosen strategically to coincide with Independence Day, ensuring a substantial audience turnout.
The cast of “Bhairathi Ranagalu” includes Shivarajkumar, Rukmini Vasanth, Rahul Bose, Avinash, Devaraj, Madhu Guruswamy, Chhaya Singh, and Babu Hirannayya. The film features cinematography by Navin Kumar and music composed by Ravi Basrur.
