Gunasekhar’s Rudhramadevi completes 11 years today, October 9, marking another milestone for one of Telugu cinema’s ambitious historical dramas. Released in 2015, the film brought the story of the Kakatiya queen to the big screen, with Anushka Shetty taking on the challenging title role.
Set in the era of the Kakatiya dynasty, Rudhramadevi follows the life of Rudrama Devi, a queen who had to overcome challenges to protect her kingdom and establish her place as a ruler. The film explored her journey from being raised as a prince to embracing her identity and responsibilities as a queen, giving the story a strong historical and emotional foundation.
Anushka Shetty led the film with her portrayal of Rudramadevi, while Allu Arjun made a memorable impression as Gona Ganna Reddy. Rana Daggubati played Chalukya Veerabhadra, with Prakash Raj, Krishnam Raju, Nithya Menen and Catherine Tresa among the other prominent cast members. Chiranjeevi lent his voice as the narrator, adding another notable element to the film.
One of the film’s major attractions was its scale. Presented in 3D, Rudhramadevi brought together grand sets, elaborate costumes and battle sequences to recreate the historical world of the Kakatiyas. The production design and visual presentation reflected Gunasekhar’s ambition to bring this chapter of history to a wide audience.
The film’s music and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja, whose work added to the period setting and dramatic moments.
Eleven years later, Rudhramadevi remains a notable entry in Telugu cinema’s historical film space, remembered for its scale, ensemble cast and Anushka Shetty’s portrayal of a powerful queen.