Bhairathi Ranagal: Release date, trailer, plot, cast, budget, OTT partner - all you need to know

When director Narthan made Mufti with Roaring Star Sriimurali and Century Star Shivarajkumar, he gave the latter a pivotal role that had him appear only in the second half of the film. Shivarajkumar was Ranagal, a feared crime boss, who was also a saviour for the people of Ronapura, while Sriimurali played an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating the former’s gang and gather incriminating evidence of his unlawful deeds.

Back then, Shivarajkumar is said to have been sceptical about playing a character with grey shades, but then Narthan gave the actor more context about the character, which, not only convinced him to play the man who made black-on-black a style statement, but also to get the filmmaker to give serious thought about bringing this backstory to the screen.

Shivarajkumar admits that he was hesitant to play Bhairathi Ranagal in Mufti 

Bhairathi Rangal release date

Shivarajkumar and Narthan are bringing the origin story of Bhairathi Ranagal to theatres this week. The film, which was initially meant to be an August 15 release, was pushed ahead and is now headed to theatres on November 15, 2024. The film is Shivarajkumar’s second home production under the banner Geetha Pictures.

Bhairathi Ranagal plot, run-time and trailer

As per the teaser and trailer of Bhairathi Ranagal, the film explores the title character’s life before he became the crime boss that cops were hunting in Mufti. In fact, Ranagal was a law-abiding officer of the court, who gives up his black coat after he is let down by the system he firmly believed in. The circumstances that push Ranagal to becoming judge, jury and executioner, with his opponents having violent ends, form the crux of the tale.

Bhairathi Ranagal also introduces audiences to his wife, played by Rukmini Vasanth, a character that was not seen in Mufti. What becomes of her is also central to the plot.

The film, according to Shivarajkumar, has a run-time of 2 hours and 20 minutes only and will neatly tie in with the events of Mufti.  

Rahul Bose on Bhairathi Ranagal: My character’s greatest joy lies in unleashing cruelty 

Bhairathi Ranagal cast

Shivarajkumar reprises his character from Mufti, as do actors like Chaya Singh, as his sister Vedavathi, Madhu Guruswamy as Singa, Devaraj as Raghuveer Bhandari, Vasishta N Simha as Kashi, Babu Hirannaiah as Shabari. New inclusions on the cast are Rahul Bose, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Rukmini Vasanth, Pratap Narayan, Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Avinash, among others.

Bhairathi Ranagal budget

Produced by Geetha Shivarajkumar for Geetha Pictures, Bhairathi Ranagal is said to have been made at a budget of about Rs 20 crore.

Bhairathi Ranagal OTT partner

There is no official word on the digital streaming rights of Bhairathi Ranagal. But given that the original film, Mufti is on Zee5 and that the network picked up Geetha Pictures’ debut production Vedhaa, it is assumed that Bhairathi Ranagal will also land on the platform after its theatrical run.

Mufti can be streamed on Zee5 and on OTTplay Premium.