Shivarajkumar’s Bhairathi Ranagal to get festive release; no clash with Martin

A few days ago, OTTplay reported that Shivarajkumar’s upcoming film Bhairathi Ranagal, which was meant to be an Independence Day release, was being pushed ahead. The team has not officially announced the same, but sources close to the makers have indicated that director Narthan needs at least another month to complete principal photography, which would make it difficult for him to bring the film to theatres on time.

Shivarajkumar’s Bhairathi Ranagal to miss its Independence Day release? 

Bhairathi Ranagal's new release date?

While an end of September date was considered, that got scuttled once Jr NTR’s Devara’s was announced for the 27th. And with Dhruva Sarja’s Martin finally settling for a Dasara release, two years after it was first announced to be in theatres, the next feasible date that the makers are looking at is Deepavali, we hear. Bhairathi Ranagal, according to the latest will release on October 31. An official update on this is expected shortly.

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There are rumours that Real Star Upendra’s much-awaited return to direction, UI, will take up the spot vacated by Bhairathi Ranagal, but the buzz is that the actor-filmmaker is not keen on an August release. Also, there is competition from other languages, what with Pushpa 2 also said to be out of the Independence Day race. Vikram’ Thangaalan is said to be one of the films.

Bhairathi Ranagal is the prequel and sequel to director Narthan’s Mufti. Shivarajkumar had played a dreaded gangster, Bhairathi Ranagal, in the film, against who Sriimurali’s undercover cop was gathering intel. Ranagal, though, was a saviour to the people in his village. At the end of the film, he surrenders to the police and it is revealed that he knew all along that Sriimurali was undercover.

The new film, which is being produced by Shivarajkumar under his banner Geetha Films, will explore how Ranagal came to be a gangster and what happens to him after he went to jail. He is paired with Rukmini Vasanth in the film, while Rahul Bose is the antagonist. Shivarajkumar’s black panche look from the film was quite the highlight and he was expected to be seen in that avatar in Bhairathi Ranagal too. But a few leaked stills from the set have him in a black suit that almost looks likes a lawyer’s attire.

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