Bhairathi Ranagal is a Kannada neo-noir action thriller that has impressed since its release under the banner of Geetha Pictures on November 15, 2024. The film is both a prequel and a sequel to the 2017 hit Mufti, basing a riveting narrative in the mysterious life of the titular gangster, Bhairathi Ranagal.
Box Office Performance
As of its first 6 days, Bhairathi Ranagal has collected a net amount of ₹11.79 crore in India. Here’s a day-wise breakup:
Day 1 (Friday): ₹2.3 crore
Day 2 (Saturday): ₹2.7 crore
Day 3 (Sunday): ₹3.4 crore
Day 4 (Monday): ₹1.65 crore
Day 5 (Tuesday): ₹0.94 crore (very close estimate)
Wednesday, Day 6: ₹0.8 crore (approx)
The film opened to a mix of curiosity and nostalgia, especially among *Mufti* fans, but the considerable weekday decline is what is challenging the sustainability.
Story And Themes
Bhairathi Ranagal delves deep into the origins of the feared gangster, Bhairathi Ranagal, unraveling the layers of his past and exploring the circumstances that forged his ruthless persona. The narrative intertwines events from his rise to power and his complex relationships, offering a gripping tale of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal.
Set against the backdrop of Ronapura, the film explores the gray morality of its protagonists with breezy action sequences and gripping drama thrown in.
Cast and Crew
The movie features a potent ensemble cast:
Shiva Rajkumar as Bhairathi Ranagal, holding the movie together with a stupendous, multi-dimensional performance.
Rahul Bose and Nana Patekar in key roles.
Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, Devaraj, Chaya Singh (as Vedhavathi Ranagal, Bhairathi’s sister), Vasishta N. Simha, and Madhu Guruswamy all make outstanding supporting performance. Finally, Babu Hirannaiah and Shabeer Kallarakkal complete the list of actors with performances that hint a new streamline in their work. Sudipto Sen’s narration finally falls together into a tight cinematic effort due to I. Naveen Kumar’s cinematography, Akash Hiremath’s crisp cutting, and Ravi Basrur’s haunting score.
Audience Response.
Fans have appreciated the darker color and emotional quotient of the movie and its capacity to explore the *Mufti* universe further. However, some critics pointed out that its pace wasn’t that great and lacked novelty in its narration, maybe other reasons why it received mediocre response in the box office.
Looking Ahead
As Bhairathi Ranagal continues its theatrical run, it hopes to attract viewers by word of mouth. Fans of intense, character-driven narratives and fans of Shiva Rajkumar will find a solid addition to the Kannada cinema landscape in this film.
