NEW DELHI : Vijay Deverakonda’s upcoming historical drama Ranabaali will take audiences back to a devastating chapter of India’s colonial past. Set against the backdrop of the Great Famine of 1876-78, the film explores a period when drought, hunger and colonial rule pushed countless people to the brink of survival. The film stars Vijay Deverakonda in the titular role, with Rashmika Mandanna playing Jayamma, his wife. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, it is scheduled to release in theatres on October 16, 2026.
The Great Famine, also known as the Madras Famine, was one of the worst humanitarian disasters during British rule in India. It affected large areas of southern and western India between 1876 and 1878. The drought-hit Rayalaseema region, now part of Andhra Pradesh, was among the worst-affected areas. Repeated dry spells had already weakened agricultural production before the monsoon failed in 1876. With crops destroyed and food supplies dwindling, farming communities lost their primary source of livelihood. The crisis soon spread beyond the fields, leaving families struggling to find enough food to survive.
The failure of the monsoon was a major trigger, but historians have also examined the role of colonial economic policies in worsening the famine. India was under British rule, and government priorities included revenue collection and trade. Historical accounts have highlighted the continuation of grain exports even as food shortages intensified in affected regions. Colonial administrators often favoured market-led distribution instead of extensive government intervention in food supplies. Critics argue that such policies left vulnerable communities exposed when food became scarce and increasingly difficult to afford.
The famine caused enormous loss of life through starvation and disease. However, historical estimates vary depending on the regions and period being counted. The Ranabaali trailer refers to eight million deaths. Other accounts on the famine place the toll for the wider disaster at more than 10 million, while a BBC estimate puts deaths from the Madras Famine at around 4-5 million. Rayalaseema alone is believed to have lost nearly seven lakh people, according to a report by The Better India.
The British administration’s response to the crisis became a major point of controversy. Sir Richard Temple, who oversaw famine relief, introduced strict measures intended to control government expenditure. Historical accounts describe severe restrictions on food rations in relief camps. The provisions were reportedly reduced to such an extent that, at times, the rations offered to famine victims were lower in calories than those given to prisoners in colonial jails.
The famine was also a period of resistance. Historical accounts describe villagers challenging tax collection, seizing stored grain and organising local uprisings in attempts to survive. British officials often characterised such actions as criminal or rebellious. However, local folklore in Rayalaseema has preserved a different understanding of these events. Those who stood up to colonial authority are remembered in some regional traditions as people who defended their communities during a time of extreme hardship.
The historical backdrop of Ranabaali connects the story of an individual warrior with the wider suffering and resistance of famine-stricken communities. Vijay Deverakonda plays the main character, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays Jayamma. The film’s story follows a warrior who confronts British colonial authority while attempting to protect his people. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Ranabaali is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 16, 2026.
