The much-awaited pan-India film ‘Ranabaali’, starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, is gearing up for a grand worldwide theatrical release on October 16, coinciding with the Vijayadashami festival.
Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the film is presented by T-Series and produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the banner of Mythri Movie Makers.
As part of the four-episode documentary series ‘Ranabaali – Never Forget the Truth’, the second episode titled ‘The History We Forgot’ is now streaming on YouTube. The episode features Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna discussing aspects of India’s history during British rule, particularly the exploitation of agricultural resources and the role of the railway network.
Rashmika On Discovering Forgotten History
Rashmika Mandanna spoke about her experience of researching the historical period while working on the film. She said that some aspects of history remained unfamiliar to people because information about them did not reach the public during British rule, while Indians themselves also did not discuss those events extensively.
According to Rashmika, researching the period helped her understand the circumstances of that era and the lives of people who lived through it. She added that learning more about what happened during those years left her deeply emotional.
Vijay Deverakonda Talks About British-Era Railways
Vijay Deverakonda discussed the commonly known narrative surrounding the construction of India’s railway network during British rule. He pointed out that while the British did build railway lines across the country, the motivations behind their expansion and the economic interests they served are also part of the historical discussion.
Vijay said he learned during his research that Indian labour played a major role in building the railway infrastructure and that the network was also used to transport agricultural produce and other resources towards ports.
He further spoke about the movement of commodities such as grain, cotton, spices and gold, connecting the railway system to the broader economic structure of British India. The episode presents this perspective as part of the documentary’s exploration of the exploitation of India’s resources during the colonial period.
Third Episode Arrives On October 2
The four-part documentary series will continue with its third episode, titled ‘The Men We Forgot’, which is scheduled to begin streaming on October 2. The release date for the fourth episode, ‘The Last Load’, will be announced later.
Meanwhile, ‘Ranabaali’ is preparing for its theatrical release on October 16. With Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead, the film marks another collaboration between director Rahul Sankrityan and Mythri Movie Makers.