7 years after director Narthan introduced audiences to a character called Bhairathi Ranagal in Mufti, the filmmaker is set to tell another related story. This time around, it is about Ranagal and how he came to be the man that was seen in Mufti. Produced by Geetha Shivarajkumar’s Geetha Pictures, Bhairathi Ranagal will be in theatres on November 15.

Here are 5 major reasons that should put Bhairathi Ranagal at the top of your must-watch list:

Shivarajkumar returns as Bhairathi Ranagal

In Mufti, Ranagal was this mysterious crime boss that undercover cop Gana (Sriimurali) was desperate to meet and collect incriminating intel on. He eventually appears only in the second half of the film, clad in a black-on-black outfit with a black shirt and panche, which became a much-followed style. Shivarajkumar’s swag as the character and the way Ranagal was written, as a ruthless gangster, who was also a savior for the people of Ronapura, made him a stand-out element.

In the prequel, the story revolves around Ranagal but explores his life before he begins to take the law into his own hands. From his early days, him being a lawyer, and his personal relationships, there’s much that will play out.

Back to the world of Ronapura

Ranagal’s bond with Ronapura and its people is central to the film, as are certain characters who were in Mufti too and played a major role in making him the man he eventually becomes. Dynamic star Devaraj’s cunning politico Raghunath Bhandri, Babu Hirannaiah’s Shabari, and Chaya Singh’s Vedavathi Ranagal, are among the few returning characters.

Shivarajkumar’s paired with Rukmini Vasanth

Sapta Sagaradaache Ello fame Rukmini Vasanth’s second release in a span of two weeks is Bhairathi Ranagal. She was recently seen as Sriimurali’s love interest in Bagheera. Here, she is paired with Shivarajkumar’s title character and plays a doctor. Considering that her character is not referenced in Mufti, it would be interesting to see what becomes of her – a tragic end like in Bagheera, or is there a twist that will lead into the Mufti sequel?

Rahul Bose and Shabeer Kallarakkal as antagonists

Rahul Bose returns to Kannada cinema with Bhairathi Ranagal as the main antagonist Parande, a character that, he says, takes immense joy in unleashing unspeakable cruelty on others. Obviously, he will, eventually, be no match for Ranagal, but how he reacts to the fact that his end is nigh is the high point of their conflict.

Sarpatta Parambarai’s Dancing Rose, Shabeer Kallarakkal makes his debut in Kannada cinema as Gatta, another antagonist in the tale. His clash with Ranagal is mainly in the first half of the film, he says.

Ravi Basrur’s music in Bhairathi Ranagal

Much before he became a household name with KGF, Ravi Basrur had provided musical elevation to films like Ugramm and Mufti, among others. He is in charge of the score of Bhairathi Ranagal as well, which is a vital element and the expectation is that he will spring a pleasant surprise. Basrur’s background score work on Martin, which was released only a month ago, was widely panned, so it remains to be seen whether he’s done magic with Shivarajkumar’s film or not.

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