Rani Babuni Ki Kahani
From Village to Continents | A Mother’s World Where the Sun Never Sets
-By Irfan
6/9/2026
From Bihar Village to Global Shores
Born in a small village in Bihar, Rani Sunila Prasad witnessed countless transformations of time- from her marriage and child-rearing years to later phases of life. She moved from her village to Patna, then to Delhi, and eventually experienced the grand cities of Europe and America as her children settled across different continents for work. Some of her sons even married foreign women.
A Son’s Special Gift
On her 85th birthday, one of her sons wanted to give her a truly unique gift- the gift of her own memories. He reached out to Memorywala to professionally document his mother’s life story. We captured her perspective on British-era Indian villages, the economic, social, and cultural conditions of the time, and the position of women in society. Her memories also included folk songs, stories, customs, daily routines, family relationships, life values, and dreams.
Her children often say that in their mother’s world, the sun never sets. This meant that in whichever part of the world her sons lived, it was always daytime somewhere- a beautiful metaphor for a mother’s eternal presence.
Inside the Noida Apartment
To create this interview-based film, we spent unhurried time with Rani Sunila Prasad, aligning our conversations with the theme of the project. She lived alone on the 8th floor of a multi-storey apartment society in Noida. Her daughter, son-in-law, and their children lived in the adjacent flat. Her days passed in prayer, talking to relatives and acquaintances on the phone, and quiet reflection. A dedicated caregiver lived with her to assist with meals and daily needs.
Despite her age and failing health, Rani Sunila had an extraordinary ability to connect with people, thanks to her spiritual and traditional values. Through small, heartfelt conversations, we built a relationship of trust. Once the recordings began, a new sense of purpose and enthusiasm filled her.
Challenges Behind the Camera
Her voice had weakened with age and illness, so we made special arrangements for sound recording. We had kept switches on for fans and ACs to avoid humidity, even though she could not sit for long stretches. She would often need to get up to use the restroom or rest in her bedroom when tired. Walking was difficult, so she moved with the help of a walker and her caregiver. Most of her daily necessities were kept near her bed, and she would ring a call bell whenever she needed assistance.
The recording process gave her renewed energy. On the days we filmed, she would lovingly inquire about the team’s well-being and even give instructions regarding their meals and snacks. If she remembered something later, she made sure to include it in the next session.
An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Legacy
In this way, through the memories of one ordinary yet extraordinary woman, we documented an entire era- its food, rituals, seasons, farming practices, animal husbandry, child-rearing, education, and the condition of women in joint families. These were honest, firsthand experiences of living as a woman in a patriarchal Indian society, along with her own hard-earned wisdom and perspective.
Legacy Beyond Life
A year after we completed this project, Rani Sunila Prasad left her mortal body. But her memories live on. Her story- full of laughter, sorrow, struggle, victory, and dreams- is now preserved forever in the film Rani Babuni Ki Kahani, available on YouTube.
At Memorywala, this is what we do: we turn personal histories into lasting legacies.
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