Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama

Ranganayaki (1981): Cast & Plot

Ranganayaki (1981) movie poster

Ranganayaki is a 1981 drama directed by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal, starring Ambareesh as Ramanna, Ramakrishna and Ashok. It runs 2 hours 57 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
Ranganayaki (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 57m (177 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
Kannada
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ranganayaki About?

The premise of Ranganayaki without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Adapted from Ashwattha’s novel, a theatre artist marries a young man and has a child. Dissatisfied, she pursues a film career, becomes famous, while her husband leaves with their son. Years later a younger admirer falls for her, mistaking her maternal care for romance; when he discovers he loves his own mother, she, crushed, ends her life.

Ranganayaki Themes & Keywords

· 9 tags
  • actress
  • dysfunctional marriage
  • suicide
  • marital separation
  • depression
  • older woman younger man relationship
  • oedipus complex
  • director
  • based on novel
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Ranganayaki Cast & Characters

Ambareesh leads the cast as Ramanna, with Ramakrishna as Shekhar and Ashok as Nagaraj Shetty. Directed by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal; 5 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Ranganayaki

· 1 more
From the director

More from S.R. Puttanna Kanagal

More films directed by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal: Manasa Sarovara, Sakshathkara and Sharapanjara.

Full filmography
Plot

Ranganayaki Plot Summary

What happens in Ranganayaki from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Ranganayaki is a theater artiste who plays the lead female role in every production of the drama company owned by her foster-father. When a wealthy man, Nagaraja, falls in love with her, she marries him and steps away from the stage, bringing the curtain down on the life that defined her.

Her departure hits the troupe hard, and the drama company struggles to stay afloat as profits dwindle and audiences wane. In a moment of crisis—when the company faces trouble after the new actress absconds—Ranganayaki dons the grease paint to defend her father’s reputation. This bold return costs her marriage; her husband leaves town with their year-old son.

Full summary

The whole story of Ranganayaki, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Ranganayaki?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Ranganayaki's profession at the beginning of the film?

Seen Ranganayaki?

FAQ

Ranganayaki FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Ranganayaki, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ranganayaki?

Ranganayaki runs 2 hours 57 minutes (177 minutes).

When was Ranganayaki released?

Ranganayaki was released on February 6, 1981.

Who directed Ranganayaki?

Ranganayaki was directed by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal.

More films by S.R. Puttanna Kanagal

Who is in the cast of Ranganayaki?

Ranganayaki stars Ambareesh as Ramanna, Ramakrishna as Shekhar and Ashok as Nagaraj Shetty, among 5 credited actors.

Does Ranganayaki have a post-credit scene?

No. Ranganayaki has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Ranganayaki in?

The original language of Ranganayaki is Kannada.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app