Hyderabad: Actor Ram Charan and director Sukumar have officially begun their much-anticipated collaboration on a new film, tentatively titled RC17. The project was launched with a grand pooja ceremony in Hyderabad on Sunday, attended by megastar Chiranjeevi and several prominent personalities from the Telugu film industry.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was Chiranjeevi performing the auspicious coconut-breaking ritual and giving the first clap for his son’s upcoming film. The makers also confirmed that music composer Anirudh Ravichander has joined the project, marking a notable change in Sukumar’s regular musical collaborations.
The launch event began at around 10.50 am, and the production team shared a video of the ceremony on its official social media accounts. The film carries the intriguing tagline “You Can Imagine”, while its shooting is scheduled to begin at Ramoji Film City.
Chiranjeevi gives the mega clap at RC17 launch
The pooja ceremony began with Ram Charan arriving at the venue and greeting members of the film’s team. The actor subsequently participated in the traditional proceedings and lit the ceremonial lamp.
Chiranjeevi then performed the coconut-breaking ritual before officially giving the first clap for the project. The moment was among the key highlights of the launch, with the makers describing it as the beginning of the film’s journey.
Sharing the video on social media, the production team wrote: “The journey of #RC17 begins with the MEGA CLAP Megastar @KChiruTweets garu sounded the clapboard and blessed the entire team of #RC17.”
The presence of the veteran actor added significance to the launch, particularly as the film brings together his son Ram Charan and director Sukumar for another major project.
Chiranjeevi’s participation in the ceremony also continues a tradition of him giving the first clap for some of Ram Charan’s films.
Anirudh Ravichander joins Sukumar’s film
One of the major announcements surrounding RC17 is the confirmation of Anirudh Ravichander as its music composer.
The development is noteworthy because Sukumar has frequently collaborated with Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) on his films. Their association has produced several popular soundtracks, making Anirudh’s inclusion a fresh musical combination for the director.
Anirudh has established himself as one of the prominent composers in Indian cinema, with music spanning Tamil, Telugu and other film industries. His involvement has added another major name to the technical team of RC17.
The makers have not yet revealed details about the film’s songs, background score or musical style. However, the collaboration between Anirudh and Sukumar has become one of the talking points following the launch.
The remaining cast and crew details are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Ratnavelu to handle cinematography
The film’s technical team also includes cinematographer Ratnavelu, who has been brought on board to handle the visuals.
His involvement adds to expectations surrounding the film’s visual presentation, particularly as the makers are reportedly planning to present Ram Charan in a rugged and previously unseen avatar.
The project is being produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings and T-Series Films.
The tagline “You Can Imagine” has been revealed as part of the film’s initial announcement. However, the makers have not disclosed the storyline or provided details about the character Ram Charan will portray.
With filming scheduled to begin at Ramoji Film City, the project is moving towards its production phase following the formal launch.
Ram Charan and Sukumar reunite after Rangasthalam
RC17 marks the reunion of Ram Charan and Sukumar after their successful 2018 collaboration, Rangasthalam.
The rural drama featured Ram Charan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead roles. Ram Charan’s performance received widespread attention, and the film became a major commercial success.
Set against a village backdrop, Rangasthalam followed a story driven by local power structures, relationships and political conflict. Its distinctive setting and performances helped it establish a strong position in Telugu cinema.
The film reportedly earned Rs 131.20 crore at the box office, further strengthening the association between Ram Charan and Sukumar.
Their reunion for RC17 has therefore attracted considerable interest among fans, who are keen to see what the actor and director bring to the screen after their earlier collaboration.
The new project is expected to present a different look and character for Ram Charan, although the makers have yet to share further information.
Star-studded Telugu film industry gathering
The launch ceremony was attended by several well-known personalities from the Telugu film industry.
Apart from Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan and Sukumar, directors Harish Shankar, Buchi Babu Sana, Naga Vamsi, Rahul Sankrityan, Gopichand Malineni and Maruthi were present.
Producers Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar also attended the event.
The gathering brought together filmmakers and producers from different parts of the Telugu film industry to mark the beginning of the project.
The makers’ decision to share footage from the pooja ceremony offered fans a glimpse of the event and confirmed the project’s formal launch.
Chiranjeevi’s tradition of giving the first clap
Chiranjeevi has previously given the first clap for several of Ram Charan’s films, making his presence at the RC17 launch part of a familiar tradition.
Among the films mentioned in this connection are SS Rajamouli’s RRR in 2022, S Shankar’s Game Changer in 2025 and Buchi Babu Sana’s Peddi in 2026.
RRR, which featured Ram Charan alongside Jr NTR, became a major box-office success and reportedly collected Rs 782.2 crore domestically.
Game Changer, directed by S Shankar, earned Rs 131.20 crore, while Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, reportedly grossed Rs 244.64 crore.
Chiranjeevi’s latest appearance at the launch of RC17 has once again brought attention to the bond between the father and son, as well as the actor’s involvement in the beginnings of Ram Charan’s projects.
What to expect from RC17
With the pooja ceremony completed, RC17 is preparing to move into production. The combination of Ram Charan, Sukumar and Anirudh Ravichander has generated interest, particularly following the success of the actor-director duo’s earlier film.
Ratnavelu’s involvement in cinematography and the backing of Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings and T-Series Films further strengthen the project’s technical and production team.
The makers have so far kept the story, supporting cast and release plans under wraps. For now, the confirmed details include the film’s formal launch, Anirudh’s appointment as music composer and the planned start of shooting at Ramoji Film City.
As production gets underway, further announcements are expected to provide a clearer picture of Ram Charan’s character and the world Sukumar is creating for their second collaboration.