Ranabaali: Can VD & Mythri Finally Break the BO Curse?

Ranabaali Tests Vijay and Mythri's Luck!

Vijay Deverakonda and Mythri Movie Makers have shared a relationship marked by big expectations and repeated disappointments. From the shelved Hero to Dear Comrade and Kushi, the association has seen huge investments but failed to deliver the box-office results expected. Now, with Ranabaali arriving on October 16, the combination faces another crucial test.

The story goes back to Hero, the ambitious sports-action drama directed by Anand Annamalai. Launched in 2019, the film featured Vijay as a professional biker, with Malavika Mohanan and Shalini Pandey in the cast. However, the project was eventually shelved after a portion of the shoot. Reports suggested that Mythri had already spent around Rs. 15 crores before pulling the plug because the output was not satisfactory.

Dear Comrade was the next major collaboration. Released after Vijay’s successes with Arjun Reddy and Geetha Govindam, the film had a strong emotional story and Vijay-Rashmika pairing. Despite limited appreciation, the box office numbers fell short of its break-even target.

Kushi offered another chance to bounce back. The Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha starrer opened well, but mixed reviews and a sharp drop after the opening weekend stopped it from becoming a genuine box-office success. It failed to establish Vijay as the dependable box-office star producers expect from such big investments.

Now, Ranabaali brings Vijay and Mythri together again. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan and featuring Rashmika Mandanna, the period action drama has yet to generate the kind of buzz expected from an ambitious project. The bookings have also been so-so, leaving the film heavily dependent on its content to pull audiences into theatres.

Mythri has continued to back Vijay despite the setbacks. But that faith eventually has to translate into box-office returns. Ranabaali is another test of whether this partnership can finally deliver a convincing commercial HIT at the box office.