The critically-acclaimed Telugu psychological dark comedy Rao Bahaddur, starring Satyadev in the lead, will soon be available for digital streaming. The film by Venkatesh Maha, which had hit theatres earlier in July, will drop on Netflix on July 31, 2026 and will be available in language options including Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, besides the Telugu original track.
| Title | Rao Bahaddur |
|---|---|
| Director | Venkatesh Maha |
| Cast | Satyadev, Deepa Thomas, Vikas Muppala |
| Streaming platform | Netflix |
| Streaming date | July 31, 2026 |
The film, which had earned praise for its unconventional storytelling, psychological depth, atmospheric cinematography and haunting score, also stars Deepa Thomas, Vikas Muppala, Anand Bharathi, Bala Parasar, Pranay Vaka, Kunal Kaushik, among others. The film is said to have grossed Rs 11 crore during its theatrical run.
Also read: Rao Bahadur Review: Satyadev leads a fascinating idea that's lost in self-indulgent storytelling
Set against the backdrop of the faded glory of the aristocratic manor called Bhuvanalayam, Rao Bahadur is centered around the character Bhuvanam Ramappa Rao Bahadur. Ramappa is an alcohol-addicted aristocrat with terminal illness whose only reason to stay alive defying medical science is his obsessional fear about his lineage and that of his younger brother Kusumappa.
Due to the overarching theme of “Doubt is a Demon,” Ramappa experiences mental deterioration to the extent that he indulges in imaginary dialogues with absent persons, which creates problems for everyone around him including his wife, Renuka, his son Lavanappa, his servants, and his doctor. The film uses dark humor along with the elements of magic realism and psychological thriller to show the destructive effects of excessive pride and doubt.
