Ranabaali Director’s ‘No Electricity’ Comment Backfires
Rahul explained that people in the past would sleep early, wake up with the sound of roosters and rely on fire lamps for lighting.
Director Rahul Sankrityan, known for films such as Taxiwala and Shyam Singha Roy, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming period drama Ranabaali. However, a recent comment about electricity and modern lifestyles has landed the filmmaker in the middle of social media trolling.
During a promotional interaction with anchor Suma, Rahul reflected on how electricity and artificial lighting have changed human lifestyles. He said that, at times, he wished there was no electricity, arguing that earlier generations enjoyed more peaceful nights and followed a more natural sleep cycle.
Rahul explained that people in the past would sleep early, wake up with the sound of roosters and rely on fire lamps for lighting. According to him, the arrival of electricity and artificial lighting extended people's waking hours and gradually disrupted their natural routines.
His comments appeared to be more of a reflection on changing lifestyles, particularly in the context of Ranabaali, which is set in an earlier period. However, social media users quickly turned his remarks into a subject of mockery.
Several netizens argued that people can still choose to switch off their lights and go to bed early if they want to follow a traditional lifestyle. One user sarcastically suggested that roads should also be removed so people would be forced to walk instead of using vehicles and could become healthier.
Another user asked Rahul to first remove electricity from his own home if he genuinely wanted to live without it. Someone else jokingly suggested that the director stop paying his electricity bill for two months, claiming the electricity department would happily help fulfil his wish.
Some users also pointed out the perceived irony of a filmmaker criticizing modern conveniences while working in an industry that relies heavily on electricity and technology. Others mocked celebrities for romanticising the hardships of the past while enjoying air-conditioning and other modern comforts.
“During the social media era, filmmakers need to be careful about how they express their views. Rahul may have simply been talking about how modern life has changed traditional habits rather than seriously suggesting that electricity should be abandoned. However, his choice of words has given social media users enough material to troll him,” a source concludes.