Rudhramadevi

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Rudhramadevi is a 2015 Telugu and Tamil 3D biographical action film about Rudrama Devi, one of the most prominent rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan and one of the few queens to rule in Indian history. Written and directed by Gunasekhar, it stars Anushka Shetty in the title role, with Allu Arjun and Rana Daggubati in major parts. Chiranjeevi narrates the film, and Ilaiyaraaja composed its songs and background score.

Story

The emperor Ganapatideva rules the Kakatiya kingdom from Orugallu, the city now known as Warangal in Telangana. He faces danger on two fronts: two dukes within his own realm, Murari Devudu and Hari Hara Devudu, are plotting to seize the throne, and the Devagiri emperor Singhana wants to conquer the Kakatiyas and place his own grandson on the throne. Everyone hopes the queen’s coming child will be a son who can secure the succession.

The baby is a girl. Acting on the advice of his prime minister, Siva Devayya, Ganapatideva announces the birth of a prince, Rudradeva, and only a handful of people know the truth. Rudrama is raised and trained as a prince, and when she eventually learns who she really is, she vows to go on living as a man until the kingdom is safe. Keeping that secret while enemies close in, and while her own feelings pull in another direction, is the drama at the centre of the film. This summary does not go beyond that setup.

Cast

According to the source, the main roles are:

• Anushka Shetty as Rudramadevi
• Allu Arjun as Gona Ganna Reddy, a neighbouring prince and Rudrama’s childhood rival
• Rana Daggubati as Chalukya Veerabhadra, another neighbouring prince
• Krishnam Raju as the emperor Ganapatideva
• Prakash Raj as the prime minister Siva Devayya
• Suman as Hari Hara Devudu
• Adithya Menon as Murari Devudu

Vikramjeet Virk, Nithya Menen and Catherine Tresa also appear.

A historical subject

The film takes as its subject one of the rare women to rule in her own right in Indian history. Its story is shaped by the politics of succession: a ruler without a son, rivals waiting for weakness at court, and a larger neighbouring empire on the border. The central device of a princess raised in disguise as a prince gives the film both its conflict and its emotional thread.

Release

The film was released worldwide on 9 October 2015, along with dubbed versions in Hindi and Malayalam. Sri Thenandal Films released the Tamil version on 16 October.

Reception and box office

Reviews were mixed. According to the source, the film grossed ₹87 crore worldwide and had the fifth-highest opening day of any Indian film in 2015. It remained the highest-grossing South Indian film led by a woman until 2025, when the Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1 overtook it. It was also the highest-grossing Telugu film with a female lead until Maa Inti Bangaram was released in 2026.

Awards

The film later won the Telangana state’s Gaddar Film Award for Best Feature Film.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.