Mufti, as a film, began as a project for Roaring Star Sriimurali. After playing a gangster in Ugramm and Rathavara, he needed to be in action mode, but not as someone from the underworld yet again. That’s when director Narthan came up with the idea of having Sriimurali play an undercover cop, which would still have him as a gangster of sorts. As the story developed, it became about Sriimurali as Gana and the gangster that he was chasing – Bhairathi Ranagal.

Bhairathi Ranagal: If not Shivarajkumar, then... 

It was producer Jayanna who suggested that Shivarajkumar ought to play the role. “Writing a character is one thing, but getting the right actor to play it is what is most important. Perhaps, if anyone else had done the role, it would not have had the impact it did with Shivarajkumar. I can’t imagine anyone other than Shivarajkumar or Rajinikanth in the role of Ranagal,” said director Narthan in an interaction with Kannada Pichhar.

Ranagal, as a character, had an unexpected impact, adds the filmmaker. This is also why he firmly believes that while it can be recreated (Simbu played the role in the Tamil remake of Mufti- Pathu Thala), Shivarajkumar can never be replaced. “That is the power of Shivanna. Whether it is his body language, dialogue delivery, the way he carried the black-on-black costume, etc., he gave it his all. Most importantly, irrespective of the experience of the filmmaker, he listens and strives to fulfil the director’s vision,” Narthan says.

Bhairathi Ranagal, the movie, which releases on November 15, is Narthan’s version of how the character came to be the savior of Ronapura and a ruthless crime boss to the rest of the world. Apart from Shivarajkumar, several characters from Mufti, like Vedavathi (Chaya Singh), Raghuveer Bhandri (Devaraj), Kashi (Vasishta N Simha), Shabari (Babu Hirannaiah), among others, are also a part of the prequel. This time around, Rukmini Vasanth is introduced as Ranagal’s pair, while Rahul Bose is the main antagonist.

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