# Ramarao on Duty
**Ramarao on Duty** is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by Sarath Mandava, starring [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja) in the title role alongside Divyansha Kaushik, Rajisha Vijayan, and [Venu Thottempudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/venu-thottempudi).[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/) It was produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas and RT Teamworks banners, the latter marking the production debut of lead actor Ravi Teja.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/ravi-teja-ramarao-on-duty-gets-a-release-date-7832414/lite/) The film released in theaters on 29 July 2022, underperformed commercially, and moved to streaming on SonyLIV about seven weeks later.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | Sarath Mandava, in his directorial debut[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html) |
| Lead cast | Ravi Teja as B. Rama Rao, with Divyansha Kaushik, Rajisha Vijayan (Telugu debut), and Venu Thottempudi[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html) |
| Release | 29 July 2022 (theatrical); 15 September 2022 on SonyLIV[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html) |
| Runtime and certificate | 146 minutes; U/A[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html) |
| Music and crew | Music by Sam CS, cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan, editing by Praveen KL[5](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty/ET00312747) |
| Box office | Trade trackers disagree: Boxoffy reports ₹28 Cr India nett against a reported ₹55 Cr budget (Flop); Sacnilk reports ₹6.47 Cr India net and ₹8.60 Cr worldwide[6](https://www.boxoffy.com/ramarao-on-duty-box-office.html) • [7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/RT68_2021) |
| Critical reception | 2.0/5 from The Times of India; 2.5/5 from Cinema Express; 5.0/10 on IMDb from about 1,900 users[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/rama-rao-on-duty/etmoviereview/93206758.cms) • [9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Jul/29/ramarao-on-duty-movie-review-intriguing-as-an-idea-underwhelming-as-a-film-33226.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
Ramarao is an honest civil servant, a Mandal Revenue Officer (deputy collector), who is transferred to Chittoor, near his home region. After the posting he stumbles upon a series of unsolved murder cases, and as he investigates he finds that the crime goes deeper than he first thought, uncovering a smuggling nexus.[10](https://www.sonyliv.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty-1000188659?watch=true) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/rama-rao-on-duty/etmoviereview/93206758.cms) The Times of India's synopsis describes him as an officer who bends the rules when fighting lapses in the system, and the story begins with his search for a missing man, the estranged husband of his former lover Malini ([Rajisha Vijayan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajisha-vijayan)).[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/rama-rao-on-duty/etmoviereview/93206758.cms) • [9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Jul/29/ramarao-on-duty-movie-review-intriguing-as-an-idea-underwhelming-as-a-film-33226.html)
The makers described the story as inspired by true incidents.[11](https://telanganatoday.com/ravi-tejas-ramarao-on-duty-to-hit-screens-on-march-25-next-year) A title card in the film states that the story draws on many true incidents from past and present.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Jul/29/ramarao-on-duty-movie-review-intriguing-as-an-idea-underwhelming-as-a-film-33226.html)
## Production and release
Sarath Mandava, a first-time director, wrote the screenplay and dialogues.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html) • [5](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty/ET00312747) The film marked Rajisha Vijayan's debut in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) and the return of Venu Thottempudi, whose previous appearance had been in *Ramachari* (2013).[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html) The supporting cast included Nassar, [Naresh](https://www.edgepedia.org/naresh-actor), Pavitra Lokesh, John Vijay, Chaitanya Krishna, Tanikella Bharani, Rahul Ramakrishna, and Surekha Vani.[11](https://telanganatoday.com/ravi-tejas-ramarao-on-duty-to-hit-screens-on-march-25-next-year) Parts of the film were shot in Spain, at Asparalló beach and Bol Nou beach in Villajoyosa, Alicante.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/)
**Release schedule changes.** In December 2021 the makers announced a release date of 25 March 2022, positioning the film at the start of the summer season.[11](https://telanganatoday.com/ravi-tejas-ramarao-on-duty-to-hit-screens-on-march-25-next-year) In March 2022, SLV Cinemas announced 17 June 2022 as the theatrical date.[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/ravi-teja-ramarao-on-duty-gets-a-release-date-7832414/lite/) The release was later moved, and the film reached theaters on 29 July 2022.[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html) • [3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html)
## Box office
Trade trackers report materially different totals for the film, and neither figure approaches profitability. Boxoffy lists ₹28 Cr India nett against a reported production budget of ₹55 Cr, a 0.5x multiple on cost, and assigns a Flop verdict; it estimates the break-even threshold at roughly ₹83 Cr India nett, about 1.5 times the production budget once prints, advertising, and distribution costs are included.[6](https://www.boxoffy.com/ramarao-on-duty-box-office.html) Sacnilk, which tracks day-wise collections, reports a much smaller run: ₹6.47 Cr India net and ₹8.60 Cr worldwide gross, with ₹4.5 Cr on the opening day of 29 July 2022 falling to ₹0.1 Cr by day seven.[7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/RT68_2021) IMDb records worldwide gross of $744,309.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/)
## Reception
**Critical response was negative.** Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India gave the film 2.0/5, writing that it is "a chore to sit through" and meanders between a proper thriller and a masala entertainer that is not engaging, with punch dialogues, slow-motion fight scenes, and special songs at odds with the investigative plot.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/rama-rao-on-duty/etmoviereview/93206758.cms) The Cinema Express review, rated 2.5/5, called the film intriguing as an idea but underwhelming as a film: it praised the ominous cold open and Sam CS's background score, but found that the mystery's unravelling was uninspiring, that the "Naa Peru Seesa" dance number and a love-story flashback added no value, and that ending on a cliffhanger caused more annoyance than anticipation for a sequel.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Jul/29/ramarao-on-duty-movie-review-intriguing-as-an-idea-underwhelming-as-a-film-33226.html) On IMDb the film holds a 5.0/10 rating from about 1,900 users.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/)
## Streaming
The film began streaming on SonyLIV on 15 September 2022, about seven weeks after its theatrical release.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html) • [12](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/september/vijayawada-english-edition-2022-09-05.pdf) It is listed on the platform in four languages with a U/A 16+ rating, and has also been carried by services such as Airtel Xstream Play and JioTV.[10](https://www.sonyliv.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty-1000188659?watch=true) • [13](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/ramarao-on-duty/SONYLIV_VOD_MOVIE_1000188659) • [14](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/ramarao-on-duty/bfef118cb9295436885dfb8abcc0be65)
## References
1. [Rama Rao on Duty (2022), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15028848/)
2. [Ravi Teja's Ramarao on Duty gets a release date, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/ravi-teja-ramarao-on-duty-gets-a-release-date-7832414/lite/)
3. [Rama Rao On Duty OTT Release, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rama-rao-on-duty/ott.html)
4. [Ramarao On Duty: Ravi Teja's action thriller to release on July 29, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/Jun/22/ramarao-on-duty-ravi-tejas-action-thriller-to-release-on-july-29-32264.html)
5. [Ramarao On Duty (2022), BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty/ET00312747)
6. [Ramarao On Duty Box Office Collection, Boxoffy](https://www.boxoffy.com/ramarao-on-duty-box-office.html)
7. [Ramarao On Duty (2022) box office, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/RT68_2021)
8. [Rama Rao On Duty Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/rama-rao-on-duty/etmoviereview/93206758.cms)
9. [Ramarao on Duty Movie Review: Intriguing as an idea, underwhelming as a film, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Jul/29/ramarao-on-duty-movie-review-intriguing-as-an-idea-underwhelming-as-a-film-33226.html)
10. [Ramarao On Duty, SonyLIV](https://www.sonyliv.com/movies/ramarao-on-duty-1000188659?watch=true)
11. [Ravi Teja's 'Ramarao On Duty' to hit screens on March 25 next year, Telangana Today](https://telanganatoday.com/ravi-tejas-ramarao-on-duty-to-hit-screens-on-march-25-next-year)
12. [Ramarao On Duty set for OTT release, The Pioneer](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/september/vijayawada-english-edition-2022-09-05.pdf)
13. [Ramarao On Duty (2022), Airtel Xstream Play](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/ramarao-on-duty/SONYLIV_VOD_MOVIE_1000188659)
14. [Ramarao On Duty, JioTV](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/ramarao-on-duty/bfef118cb9295436885dfb8abcc0be65)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films of the 2020s › Telugu films of 2020–2022*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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