The second episode of Ranabaali’s Truth Series takes a closer look at a chapter of Indian history that has often been presented without the complete context. Titled “The History We Forgot,” the episode features Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna speaking about the realities behind British rule and the history explored through the film.
Vijay Deverakonda points out how Indians have often heard that the British built railways and developed infrastructure across the country. However, he questions why those railways were actually built and whose interests they served. According to Vijay, the railway network helped the British move India’s resources to ports and eventually out of the country. Cotton, gold and other valuable resources were transported through this network, while the infrastructure itself was built using taxes collected from Indians.
The actor also stresses that understanding what happened in the past is important for the country today. Rather than looking at the railways only as a symbol of development, Ranabaali attempts to explore the larger purpose behind their construction during the colonial period.
Rashmika Mandanna speaks about another aspect of this history: how certain chapters can gradually disappear from public conversation. During her research for the film, she came across visuals and accounts from that period, and seeing what actually happened left a strong impact on her. She also highlights how agriculture was central to India at the time and how colonial policies affected a largely agriculture-oriented society.
Through the Truth Series, Ranabaali is giving audiences glimpses into the historical research behind its story. The second episode shifts the focus from the familiar narrative of British infrastructure to the larger question of why it was created and what India lost in the process.