Ranabali 2026

Sir, a telegram has arrived for you. Om! Shivapramadha ganaadipa! Hail to the supreme mighty one Bearer of the trident! O Bhadra Mallanna! None can stand against you Anantapur, once ruled by kings, A fortress where chieftains strode Bravo, O warrior, come forth! Your words worth It's weight in gems, my son Bravo, O warrior, come forth! O spotless Singanamala This is the land where valor was born Bravo, O warrior, come forth! Your word is our glory, my son Bravo, O warrior, come forth! There it is, you see it? Singanamala Hill… Up in that cave two hundred years ago, a holy ascetic entered eternal meditation. He who still watches over this village our Lord Bhadra Mallanna! -This is no ordinary tale. -This is a tale of the unexpected. A story brought to life and penned by Bhadramallanna himself. A tale of a god who took human form to destroy the demons. When famine-struck lands were haunted by spirits, he took up his sword, cut down the wicked, and fed the hungry across the land. This is the tale of Kalabhairava! Shall we begin?! Get up, son. Wake up, son. O God Bhadra Mallanna! I'm not sure if I gave birth or death to my child. He's the last seed of this lineage which deeply worships you. You should save the life that took birth under your watch. You must save him! You must save him… Rajamma… I can foresee a grand purpose that he is destined to fulfill. That's why I sustained him with life borrowed from time itself, and postponed his death for 24 years. Once the time comes and his purpose is fulfilled, he'll go to his grave. Born under this sacred hour, of this noble bloodline, I bestow upon him the name of the great slayer of Surasimha Tarakasura, Ranabaaleesa, whom I deeply worship. Ranabaali. She built a new temple in the foothills for the old man who saved her child. Rajamma performs the sacred ritual every year, offering a sacrificial bull to pray for Ranabaali’s long life. There's just one year left for the deadline set by the old man. Sister! -What is it? -How long will you keep praying? They're bringing the bull. Get started. Kobali! Kobali! Kobali! Kobali! O God Bhadra Mallanna! Accept our sacrificial offering! May rains fall and our lakes fill. May our crops flourish. And may our children live happily for a hundred years. Bless us, O God! Glory to Bhadra Mallanna! Listen up! Go in all four directions, Pray to Goddess Poli and scatter it all along the borders! Take care of the sacred offering. -Our festival's sanctity depends on this. -Okay, sir. Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Poli! Po-- -Watch out! A wolf. -Hey! The thieves may have tried to rob the offering. If the offering crosses the border, it'll bring us bad luck. -We'll be cursed with drought. -Cross it? How dare they? Who dares steal the spiritual merit we earned through devotion?! Let them try! Vaanekka! This is fort Singanamala. Do thieves have the balls to steal from us? Who do you think is guarding the border? Hey! The festival has just begun! Follow me! Our lad will take care of the thieves. You guys get the chariot ready! Hey! When you're at Singanamala festival, you bow down to our God Bhadra Mallanna, and you feast on the meals we offer. If you dare to cross the border with our offering… you will become a sacrificial bull under my sword. I’ll hack you to pieces, you scoundrels! -Go get him! -Hey! I swear by God Bhadra Mallanna, who resides on the hill. Mark my words! As long as I stand guard, not a single grain shall cross the border. I didn't come here for the offering, brother. But for the tiger guarding it! I'm Boya Veeranna. A Reddy hired me to hunt you down. I can't go back until you are dead. We don't have any enmity between us. Forgive me, brother. Go ahead. Muni! You think I'm an easy prey to get caught by measly hunters like you? This is Singanamala's Bobbili Ranabaali! You scoundrel! I'm built different, you morons! Hey! Hey! You… Who sent you? Speak up! I can’t tell you that, brother. It's against my work ethics. It's also against my work ethics to leave you in one piece. Brother, I have no right… to ask you to spare my life. My life is at your mercy. I have a daughter. Chinni. She's only four. I understand… I'll never see her face again. I can't even remember the last time I fed her full. That's the only reason I agreed to this. Can you send these to my family, please? I'll be indebted to you! Brother! What is this? How can a body speak without its head? Shouldn't we find out who sent him? Glory to Bhadra Mallanna! Our god is enraged that the ritual offering was stolen. The chariot won't move forward, even if elephants pull it. We must behead another bull and place it under the chariot wheel. There is no need to sacrifice another bull. O God Bhadra Mallanna! Come on, guys, beat the drums! When the thunder strikes Won't the horizons shatter? While the night burns with fury Won't grief start to rise? To deal a death that echoes Give me strength, O Lord of Fate As the golden chariot Charges wild We storm the streets O Bhadra Mallanna! Is not your blessing A lethal weapon? To leave the whole world awestruck! Possessed by Pothuraju’s spirt This land will dance in fury! Whoever hides within the shade Spare no enemy from the blade! Let darkness shroud the skies Every throat be severed and fall! Born from the breath of Death itself The warrior of the land is here! Spilling blood screams out in grief The heartbeat sounds a battle horn! Narasimhulu! Sister-in-law. That doctor's daughter's marriage proposal has come. -Yes, yes. -Finalize it. Marriage?! All of a sudden… You never know what might happen. Stop arguing and do as I say. It's gone. Brother! The man who sent Veeranna to that festival… It's Penugonda Munireddy! Vaanekka! Hey! Hey, Munireddy! Where the hell are you? You son of a gun! I came to your home. It's your chance to kill me. Hey! Hey! Hey! Raise a mighty war cry -Make the wicked run for their lives! -Hey! Stop! One fierce glance From those piercing eyes Will make them burn from head to toe! Roar like a mighty tiger Let your thunderous voice Echo far and wide! I crave a clash of arms Where none dare challenge my might! Once the sword is drawn A blood sacrifice is inevitable Twirl your mustache Unleash your rage What a dreadful fate! Even the fiercest demon Will bow before this blazing inferno Rudra himself bears witness To this fire that rages within! Will you not defend your pride Even if you must pay with your life? Born of the breath of Death itself He is the warrior of the battlefield Let the blood thunder like a war drum Let the heart roar the battle cry! Grandpa! Who are they? God Bhadramallana! When the demons step into our territory, God Bhadramallanna will come as Pothuraju and slay all those demons. They're all Bhadramallanna's army. What, grandpa? While we're holding a grand festival down there for you what are you doing up here? Are you really doing it for me? You're doing it for your village. How long are you going to stay in this old cave? Didn't we build a new temple in the village? -Can't you live there? -I've been staying here for 200 years. I'm not going anywhere. Anyways, this isn't a cave. A tunnel… it's a way for humans to become divine. I dug it in the Mughal era. It goes all the way to the temple below. -It runs through the entire vill-- -Who asked for your fairy tales? What's happening? When will it rain? Hope this won't turn into a famine. It's not that this land has never seen a famine. Famine isn't what you should be worrying about. But the famine demon. From the west, the famine demon is about to enter our land. Be careful. These are hard times. Cruel times. A disaster is looming upon us. I hear the anguish of countless souls. There are many paths you must walk. The lands you need to cross. And shores that you should reach. I'll signal you when it's time. Be ready. Good afternoon, Sir Theodore Hector. Welcome to the Madras Presidency. I am Robert Malthus. Chief revenue officer. I also speak the native tongues of Telugu… Tamil and even a bit of Kannada. May I say that we are truly honored-- State the affairs of the port, Malthus. Yes, of course, sir. Thank you. The cargo just arrived at Machilipatnam Port, sir. 140 bags of Spices. 1,600 bags of Cotton. The total inward cargo stands at 3,604 bags. The outward cargo of 3,602 bags is ready for dispatch, sir. What happened to the two missing bags? Two bags?! I mean, we could hardly call them missing. I mean, it'd be impractical sir, to account for every single grain. No sir, No sir! I beg you. Please forgive me, sir. Please forgive me. We can't afford to lose even a single grain. Load them. Bloody thieves! Can't trust you with a kernel. Wait, sir. We only took a handful of grain to feed our hungry children. We're not thieves. You're hitting us as you wish. Hey! Hold it! You're treating us like donkeys, since we're under a contract. You're treating us like slaves. How long must we suffer like this, sir? Every grain bears the name of the one destined to eat it. Sir, such acts of violence could provoke rebellion. So what's wrong with eating harvest of our own lands? Good evening, gentlemen! Good evening, sir. It's really hot in Madras, isn’t it? Let's welcome a distinguished guest this evening. Be seated. Serve him. Serve everyone. Eat. Eat! Cheers! To your worthless breed of governance. I do beg your pardon, Commissioner? British wars demand double exports. Bombay complies. Bengal complies. Only Madras fails. Unlike Bengal or Bombay, Madras suffers droughts. The land is cracked, the rivers are dry. We cannot conjure grain from thin air. Eat. You're incapable of rational thought. If you push people too hard, they will definitely revolt. I've heard that you were welcomed at port by a rebellion. I'm sure that is the last thing you'd want, right? Eat. Forget about doubling the exports. We cannot even reach half of last year's quota. I do wish you have a plan. I said eat! Do you think your name is written on your food? I say it is my queen's name that is written on every grain born in the womb of this land. Be it rodents or Indians. I shall not spare who touch my collections. And yes… Rebellion… is the last thing I want. Gentlemen! I come before you on the queen's business. Drought, is no bar to duty. Double the taxes. Plunder the reserves. Burn down the presidency if you must. Whatever it is, I shall remain until the ships sail fully laden. That's the plan. Madras will now serve for the nourishment of London. I don't want to see sand on that beach. Only sacks of grain. THERE'S NO GRAIN What happened? The whole village rebelled against the taxes. The Commissioner found out and sent the army. They destroyed the whole village. It's Hound Army, they say. Amen! Manikanta! -Sir! -Sir! -Sir! Manikanta! -Oh, God! The entire Presidency trembled at the famine demon's atrocities. What's happening down in Singanamala? Our Jayamma, pure as fresh turmeric. She will take it from here. She entered Rajamma's home Put your right foot forward and come inside, dear. When it comes to this household, our grandfather, Bhadra Mallanna, makes the decisions, good or bad. He's the one who sent you, too. Give this lineage an heir soon… it's your responsibility to carry the family name forward. -Rajamma! -Yes. What should we sing? Have you seen my daughter-in-law? She's so fair, right! Does anyone around here have such a complexion? Oh my! Look how proud Rajamma is of bringing home such a fair daughter-in-law. -Sing the 'Fair Maiden' song. -The Fair Maiden song? O Fair maiden Your husband has come Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Oh fair maiden, oh fair maiden Ah, fair maiden Your husband has come Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Oh fair maiden, oh fair maiden O Fair maiden Your husband has come Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! He comes to you He tries to hold you by the waist He comes to you He tries to hold you by the waist He comes to you He tries to hold you by the waist Did he bring a silver belt For your waist? Or did he just come to talk sweet? Did he bring a silver belt For your waist? Or did he just come to talk sweet? -Hey! Come here. -Fair maiden…O fair maiden O Fair maiden Your husband has come Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! What is this? Is there no formal talk? What's that smell? -Do you drink? -Damn, how dare you push me? Stop! -Ah, he comes to your feet -Hey! -And admires your feet -You… Ah, he comes to your feet Oh god! Why are you like this? Ah, he comes to your feet On her wedding night, any woman wants her husband to accept her lovingly, not pouncing like a maniac. Love on wife? Seriously? I am your husband. Shut your mouth and get into bed. You wretched woman! Chusinam Po! He comes to your neck He caresses your neck He comes to your neck He caresses your neck He comes to your neck -Come here, you… -Mother-in-law! Or did he just come to talk sweet? Did he bring a pearl necklace? Or did he just come to talk sweet? Hey! Oh fair maiden! Oh fair maiden O Fair maiden -Your husband has come -Wicked woman! Look how handsome he is He's a sight to behold! I'll kill you. Open the door! Chusinam Po! He comes to you He holds you by braid He comes to you He'll kill me! Did he bring jasmine flowers For your braid… Where will you run off to? -Damn you… -Mother-in-law! Did he bring jasmine flowers For your braid? Or did he just come to talk sweet? Where the hell are you all at? He's killing me! -Look how handsome he is… -Mother-in-law! -Mother-in-law! -Stop singing! If you come near me, I'll jump into the well. Forget that. I'll kill you myself. Get down first. I came here to be your wife, not your mistress. You get down first! I'll show you what being a wife is. You're full of nonsense. I'll whack you. Chusinam Po! Thinking you were from a respectable family, I rushed into the marriage. And I ended up with someone like you. You're not even here for a day and you're already talking ill about the household? I'll kill you, wretched woman. What is this attitude towards her? You numbskull! Get out. -Mother-in-law… -Dear! Get down, dear. Mother-in-law! I won't come, if he's in the house. I'll go back to my parents. Send her away first. I don't want her. Where did you find this wretched woman? -Hey Narasimudu! -Yes. Take him away. Yeah, come on. Let's go. What happened? You morons had to get him drunk today too? The second line faded out. Let's go inside, come. Watch your step, dear. What are you looking at? Go to your homes! Show me that. This is so nice. Hey! Get lost! You wretched woman! Hey! I'm Singanamala King Ranabaali… Oh, no! The documents are soaked in oil. The writing will fade. Hey, go fetch Ranganayakulu! Let's get new ones written. Come and eat, brother. You can write them later. Okay, I'm coming. Jayamma, what have you cooked? It smells so good. Mutton curry and country chicken, Uncle. You nailed it! Serve me more. Have some more, brother. Here. I don't eat meat, Jayamma. Oh, then… -have some eggplant. -Hey, Ranganayakulu! You're being shy now? You're not an outsider. Of course not. I'm not used to eating meat. You should be fortunate to taste Jayamma's cooking. Jayamma! You served everyone food. Won't you serve me? I'm starving. I set your plate half an hour ago. Are you going to eat out there like a stranger? Come on up, brother. Sit here. You can eat hot-- What's wrong? Do you need a special invite? We need to leave, don't we? Come on. Go on, have it. You want some more? Fine. -Hey! -Brother! What are you staring at my face for, you idiot? Go get the veterinary doctor from the nearby village. Right away, bro. What happened? What do you mean, what happened? Can't you see all this blood? Oh no, he'll make a huge fuss about it now. Come, sister, let's go inside. It's not the first time she got hurt. She will be fine. -Uncle… -Yes. Go get the booze. Now! She'll feel at ease after drinking. -Also call the shaman. -Yeah, got it. Hey, woman! Yes, you! Go get some turmeric and jaggery. There you go… it's done. Good girl. Here. Eat the jaggery. Go on. It's nothing. To protect this household that has no man, I placed a sword in my son's hand when he was fourteen and made him kill his maternal uncle. Since then… Singanamala has been peaceful. Though he grew up in harsh circumstances, your husband is not a bad man. A man who loves an animal so much… won't he love his wife the same? With a little patience, I hope you can change him. Fortune telling! Oh fortune telling! I shall read your fortune, ladies. Speak, O Goddess, speak the truth. Give me your hand, Jayamma. Oh Jayamma! Of all people, you went and married a fierce man. He carries a terrible anger right on his nose… but you won't be able to tame him. Through much struggle, you will bear his child. But this man wasn't born for just one household. Following a divine path, he will leave you… and go far away. Keep this in mind. Where will he go? Why would he? Go to the colony of the hunters… who were widowed by your husband's sword. Those women will tell you. The wails of their dead husbands and children won't go in vain. One's sins will always catch up to them. Do what you can and leave the rest to God. Bravo! Bravo! That photo would travel a long way, sir. By the way, the collections are unprecedented, Sir. We took everything from people. But… I'm afraid this will result in a great famine. A famine is an opportunity for us, Malthus. So, spare me your fears and tell me, why these districts yield so little? These are the back districts. Bellary, Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa. The problem is not the collection, sir. It's the terrain. It's the rocky terrain. Transportation is almost impossible to get there. Then we bend the rocks… and finish the lines between Arcot and Raichur. Grain shall flow all the way to the Madras port. 323 miles. We shall require no fewer than 10 camps and no less than 10,000 laborers to complete the job. Where shall we find such labor? It was once a country of Palegars. Men who blood before they bowed. Africa, Australia, Ireland… Do you think they did not resist? How does a tiny island rule them all? Hunger! The one religion all creatures bow to. Nations that don't fall by war… kneel by starvation. That is how you produce labor. I want no region spared. What is this place? The temple is on the other side of the village. They say you must settle your debts before asking God for more. We owe a debt to someone here. Wait here a moment, I'll be back. What? You even have a debt in a place like this? What is the name of this village? I don't know either, brother. Sit down. Is this yours? It's broken. Hey, don't cry. It's not made of gold. Go make a new one. Oh god! Don't cry. Come here. Here. Keep this money with you. Do you like horses? Come, forget a toy horse… I'll let you ride a real one. What's your name? -Chinni. -She's Munniamma. Hey Munni! -Want to get on? Come on. -No. -Uncle, no. -Don't be scared, dear. I'm right here. -I'm scared. -Don't you like horses? -I do. -Then what? -Come, sit. It's fine. I'm right here. -No, Uncle. -No, Uncle. -Alright, never mind. Do you live here? -Where's your father? -Chinni, come here. I'm not kidnapping her. Don't be afraid. If not for you who else should we fear? Without even letting his wife and child… have one last look, you sent back a headless body. You sent back his hacked body. She's the wife of Boya Veeranna, who died at your hand. Alivelu. Brother, why did you do such a thing? It's just our wretched fate… No matter how many times I told him not to, he agreed to work for that man, just for the sake of our child. No, brother… I can't. No! Don't say no, Alivelu. Without any help, how will you survive this famine? Where will you go? As long as there's strength left in my body, I will work and feed us. But…