Inside Ranabaali: #ViRosh’s 19th-century Rayalaseema odyssey

History exists in many forms — not just in books, but in the stories passed down in villages and rituals, says director Rahul Sankrityan. Over two-and-a-half years, he explored archives, libraries, and collectorate offices, talking to historians, poets, and folk storytellers to understand the 19th century. “The Madras Presidency — present-day Chennai, Telugu regions, and Bengaluru — has its own untold stories of struggle and resilience,” he adds. “We rarely hear these in mainstream narratives.” Some of the most striking moments, he says, emerged from encounters in forgotten villages and archives, including a visit to his father’s village, where a forgotten ritual was revived and eventually inspired the climax. In a chat with Hyderabad Times, he spoke about the inspirations behind the making of the film Ranabaali.Excerpts...‘Ranabaali is rooted in real events from 19th-Century Rayalaseema’It is these stories that form the backbone of Rahul’s upcoming pan-India period drama, Ranabaali, starring Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, and The Mummy-famed Arnold Vosloo. Set in 19th-century South India and inspired by real events, the film explores resistance, tradition, and the personal lives of people navigating colonial-era hardships, particularly in the Rayalaseema region.For Rahul, audiences are now drawn to history in ways they weren’t before. “For years, we kept revisiting the same familiar themes — love stories and family dramas. But today, audiences’ tastes are evolving, and they want something more. Viewers are drawn to spectacle — grand fantasy epics and larger-than-life narratives rooted in history and mythology. It’s simply a case of supply meeting demand. As a country, we’re rediscovering our past and trying to understand what truly happened. That old sense of inferiority of constantly looking to the West for validation is slowly fading.” ‘Vijay plays a fierce rebel with natural authority’Recreating history also means asking actors to inhabit another world entirely. Rahul explains, “Vijay plays a man driven by deep anger, and his rage comes from the harsh realities of that region and time, where aggression was often necessary for survival. He portrays a fierce rebel from a royal lineage - a chieftain or landlord with commanding presence.” To prepare, Vijay underwent extensive accent training to capture the old Rayalaseema dialect. He also trained in horse riding for six months. “We even sourced horses from Maharashtra and trained them for the same duration,” Rahul adds, noting that the horse isn’t just a prop but an important character in the film.”‘Arnold took extensive linguistic training to perfect his role’Explaining his choice to cast Hollywood star Arnold Vosloo, Rahul says, “One of the boldest decisions I’ve made — and one I’m incredibly proud of — was casting Arnold as Sir Theodore Hector (the film’s fictional British officer). From the first conversation, he was excited. A history enthusiast from South Africa — itself a former British colony — he connected deeply with the emotions in the script. It’s an action-packed role, and working with Arnold was effortless.” Rahul adds, “While filming, he even underwent linguistic training to perfect the British officer’s accent. Casting him brought an interesting layer to the film’s colonial backdrop.”