He criticised the "herd mentality" of the region, where producers follow trends.
"Stories are Missing": Rana Ranbir Launches New Book ‘Aaho’, Calls for Reform in Scripts
Rana Ranbir, a renowned Punjabi actor, director, and author, has sparked a fresh debate about the state of Punjabi cinema. He said that the industry lacks "individuality" and strong scripts. At the launch of his eighth book, a poetic compilation titled Aaho, Ranbir addressed why Punjabi cinema often trails behind South Indian industries in national dominance.
He stressed a fundamental difference in the industry structure and said that "Punjab doesn't have pure filmmakers; there are only investors here, unlike the South."
He criticised the "herd mentality" of the region, where producers follow trends, whether NRI-centric subjects, mindless comedies, or typical dramas, at the cost of original storytelling.
He added that unlike South Indian audiences who are loyal to their native language, Punjabis are fluent in Hindi and English. This factor contributes to Punjabi films competing directly with Hollywood and Bollywood.
He also emphasised that "stories are missing" from modern scripts and urged the industry to find solutions looking inward instead of blaming audiences for staying away from theatres.
His new book, Aaho, is a 144-page blend of motivational and spiritual dialogues focused on instilling a deeper sense of love and humanity, values that he feels are often missing in modern education and media.
Ranbir is known for directing films like Asees and Posti and is currently working on upcoming projects including Ishqa De Lekhe and Jawaak.
Source: Times of India
