RRR is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language epic period action drama film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the screenplay with V. Vijayendra Prasad. Produced by D. V. V. Danayya under DVV Entertainment, the film stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan in lead roles. It also features an ensemble cast of Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody and Olivia Morris in supporting roles. It marks the Telugu film debuts of Devgn, Bhatt, Stevenson, Doody and Morris. The film is a fictionalised tale of two historical freedom fighters, set in the Indian pre-independence era.
Rajamouli conceptualised the film by reimagining the lives of Sitarama Raju and Bheem, envisioning their meeting in 1920s Delhi as two formidable forces uniting to battle British colonial rule. The film was officially announced in March 2018, and principal photography began in November 2018 in Hyderabad. The production faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concluded in August 2021. RRR was shot extensively across India, with additional sequences filmed in Ukraine and Bulgaria. The film's songs and background score were composed by M. M. Keeravani, with cinematography by K. K. Senthil Kumar and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Sabu Cyril served as the production designer, and V. Srinivas Mohan supervised the visual effects.
Made on a budget of ₹550 crore, RRR was the most expensive Indian film at the time of its release. The film was released theatrically on 25 March 2022 and became the first Indian film to be released in Dolby Cinema format. It received universal critical acclaim for its direction, screenwriting, cast performances, cinematography, soundtrack, action sequences and VFX. With ₹223 crore worldwide on its first day, RRR recorded the highest opening-day earned by an Indian film at the time. It emerged as the highest-grossing film in its home market of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, grossing over ₹406 crore and is maintaining it till date. The film grossed ₹1,300–1,387 crore worldwide, setting several box office records for an Indian film. It currently ranks the sixth highest-grossing Indian film, the third highest-grossing Telugu film and the highest grossing Indian film of 2022 worldwide.
RRR was considered one of the ten best films of the year by the National Board of Review, making it only the second non-English language film ever to make it to the list. The song "Naatu Naatu" won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, making it the first song from an Asian film to win in this category. The win made RRR the first and only Indian feature film to win an Academy Award. The film became the third Indian film and first Telugu film to receive nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and won Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu", making it the first Indian (as well as the first Asian) nominee to win the award. RRR also won the awards for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards. At the 69th National Film Awards, the film won six awards, including Best Popular Feature Film, Best Music Direction (Keeravani) and Best Male Playback Singer (Kaala Bhairava for "Komuram Bheemudo"). RRR also fetched the state Telangana Gaddar Film Awards for Best Feature Film.
Plot In 1920, in the British Raj, the tyrannical Governor Scott Buxton and his wife, Catherine, visit a forest in Adilabad, where they encounter Malli, a gifted young girl from the Gond tribe. Impressed by her artistic talent, Catherine abducts Malli and takes her to Delhi. The tribe's guardian, Komaram Bheem, travels to Delhi to rescue her, adopting the Muslim pseudonym "Akhtar". The Government of Hyderabad warns the Government of the British Raj about Bheem, prompting Catherine to recruit Alluri Sitarama "Ram" Raju, an ambitious and highly skilled Indian Imperial Police officer. She promises him a promotion for capturing Bheem alive, or a substantial bounty otherwise.
Ram and his uncle, Venkateswarulu, attend a pro-independence gathering in disguise. Bheem's aide, Lachhu, attempts to recruit them, but discovers Ram's identity and flees. Soon afterwards, Ram and Bheem independently rescue a boy trapped beneath a burning train wreck. Their unspoken coordination establishes a profound friendship, despite their opposing allegiances.
With Ram's help, Bheem courts Jennifer "Jenny", a compassionate Englishwoman and Governor Buxton's niece. After Ram and Bheem impressively out-dance the British guests at a party, Jenny invites Bheem to the Buxton residence. He locates Malli by her singing and promises to rescue her. Meanwhile, Ram captures Lachhu, who releases a venomous banded krait during interrogation. Lachhu escapes, warning that the British have no antidote, but the Gond people do. Bheem finds the dying Ram and uses his tribal knowledge to save him. Grateful, Bheem reveals his true identity and his mission, unaware that Ram is hunting him.
At a gala for Governor Buxton, Bheem's revolutionaries breach the palace by driving a truck carrying wild animals into the courtyard. Amid the ensuing chaos, Bheem attempts to free Malli, but Ram intercepts him. Their fight ends when Buxton holds Malli at gunpoint, forcing Bheem to surrender. He is arrested, while Ram receives his promised promotion.
A flashback reveals that Ram's father, Alluri Venkatarama Raju, was a revolutionary who died seeking to arm his village with British rifles. Ram had promised to fulfil his dream and infiltrated the colonial police as a deep-cover mole, leaving his village and fiancée, Sita. His promotion gives him access to imperial weapons. During Bheem's public flogging, Ram urges him to recant, but Bheem refuses and sings a defiant anthem of freedom, inspiring the crowd and convincing Ram that courage can achieve what weapons alone cannot. Ram decides to save him, persuading Buxton to execute Bheem privately while arranging an ambush. Buxton discovers the betrayal and wounds Ram. Misinterpreting Ram's actions as an attempt to harm Malli, Bheem attacks him and escapes with her. Ram is arrested for high treason and imprisoned in solitary confinement.
Months later, Bheem, Malli and their comrades evade authorities in Hathras. Sita, who has learnt of Ram's impending execution, saves them by falsely claiming that a smallpox outbreak has occurred. Unaware of Bheem's identity, she reveals Ram's lifelong anti-colonial mission. Realising his mistake, Bheem vows to rescue him.
With logistical help from Jenny, Bheem infiltrates the barracks and frees Ram. In a nearby forest, they repel pursuing soldiers before attacking the British stronghold. Ram uses a longbow from an ancestral Rama shrine alongside Bheem's spear, while the pair ignite the ammunition stores with a flaming motorcycle. Bheem retrieves a large cache of rifles for Ram before the facility explodes, killing Catherine and the garrison. Ram gives Bheem an imperial rifle, with which he shoots the wounded Governor Buxton in symbolic vengeance for his disregard for human life.
Afterwards, Ram reunites with Sita, while Bheem and Malli return to their tribe in Adilabad, where Malli is reunited with her mother. When Ram asks how he can repay Bheem, Bheem requests that he teach him to read and write. Ram begins the lesson by using a canvas and blood to teach Bheem his first letters.
Cast
Production
Development
In October 2017, in an interview with Variety, S. S. Rajamouli announced two projects after Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) with producers D. V. V. Danayya of DVV Entertainment and K. L. Narayana. Rajamouli prioritised his work on the former, which was touted to be a social drama film, and which would be followed by Narayana's production with actor Mahesh Babu. In November 2017, Rajamouli shared a picture with N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan through his social media handles, hinting their inclusion in the film.
Rajamouli came across real-life stories about the lives of Rama Raju and Bheem and connected the coincidences between them, imagining what would have happened had they met, and been friends.
The film was announced in March 2018, with the tentative title RRR, an abbreviation for Rajamouli, Ram Charan, and Rama Rao. The tentative title RRR was later confirmed to be the film's official title as Rajamouli felt that a universal title across the languages was essential for a film of such scale. Principal photography of the film began in November 2018 in Hyderabad and continued until August 2021, owing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was filmed extensively across India, with a few sequences filmed in Ukraine and Bulgaria.
Rajamouli's father V. Vijayendra Prasad gave the original story and Rajamouli scripted the film, which he worked on for six months. In September 2018, writer Sai Madhav Burra was signed for the dialogues for the film in the primary language (Telugu), whereas dialogues in other versions were written by Madhan Karky (Tamil), Varadaraj Chikkaballapura (Kannada), Mamkombu Gopalakrishnan (Malayalam), and Riya Mukherjee (Hindi). Rajamouli retained several technicians from his previous projects. The crew consists of M. M. Keeravani as the music director, K. K. Senthil Kumar as the director of photography, A. Sreekar Prasad as the film editor, Sabu Cyril as the production designer, V. Srinivas Mohan handling the visual effects supervision, and Rama Rajamouli as the costume designer. Nick Powell was the stunt director for the film, and handled the choreography for the climax action sequences in the film. Prior to the start of film production, both Rama Rao and Charan had attended a special workshop in mid-November 2018, in order to train physically and intensively for their roles in the film.
RRR is an entirely fictitious story incorporating the lives of two real-life Indian revolutionaries, namely Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, who fought against the British Raj and the Nizam of Hyderabad respectively. Charan plays Rama Raju while Rama Rao plays Komaram Bheem. The plot explores their stay in Delhi of the 1920s before they begin the fight for their country. Rajamouli stated that there had been a coincidence between the two Telugu tribal leaders and the events surrounding over them.
Casting
In March 2019, Rajamouli finalised the cast. The film marks the Telugu debut of Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt. Bhatt was paired opposite Charan in the role of Sita, while Devgn would have an extended cameo. Tamil actor Samuthirakani was roped in to play a crucial role. British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones was signed to be paired opposite Rama Rao, however, she left the project in April 2019 citing personal reasons, which later revealed to be scheduling conflicts to Normal People. Olivia Morris was cast as her replacement in November 2019. The same month, Irish actor Ray Stevenson was cast as the lead antagonist Scott, with Alison Doody joining in to play Lady Scott. Chakri, Varun Buddhadev, Spandan Chaturvedi and Twinkle Sharma were the child artists for the film.
In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Rama Rao said that they had carried out major research to portray their characters on screen. He was put on an 18-month training programme to get the right physical appearance. The Hans India reported in March 2019 that Devgn will appear in the second half of the film during the flashback episodes. Reports claimed that Keerthy Suresh and Priyamani were approached for a role in the film, before Shriya Saran confirmed her role opposite Devgn in June 2020. Rahul Ramakrishna, Chatrapathi Sekhar and Rajeev Kanakala are cast in other supporting roles. Bhatt joined the sets in December 2020. She learnt to speak Telugu for the film.
Design