Buchi Babu’s RC 16 with Ram Charan is shaping up to be an ambitious pan-India sports drama set in a rural backdrop. It has already been confirmed that the film revolves around cricket, with the ongoing night shoots focused on crucial match sequences.
Cinematographer Rathnavelu himself revealed this, putting an end to speculation about the film’s core theme.
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However, fresh reports suggest that the film might not just be about cricket—wrestling (kushti) is also rumored to be a key element. This raises curiosity about how both sports will be integrated into the narrative.
There are also reports that Power Cricket is the working title.
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Sports dramas have rarely been box office blockbusters in Tollywood. Unlike masala entertainers or action-packed commercial films, sports-based stories have struggled to bring in massive numbers. Moreover, it’s rare for a star hero to take up a full-fledged sports-centric role in Telugu cinema.
For RC 16 to work, the narration needs to be in the league of Lagaan (cricket) or Dangal (wrestling), both of which were crafted with high emotional stakes and mass appeal.
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Interestingly, both films featured Aamir Khan, who has a history of elevating unconventional genres into box office blockbusters. If RC 16 can strike a similar balance between sports, drama, and commercial elements, it might stand a chance.
However, this remains a huge challenge. The execution will be crucial in making the audience invest in a sports-based story, especially when the Telugu audience is more accustomed to larger-than-life action films.
With Mega fans expecting nothing short of a blockbuster, Buchi Babu’s storytelling will be the deciding factor in whether RC 16 breaks the sports film jinx in Tollywood.
