Maharani (web series)

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Maharani
Maharani poster.jpg
GenreDrama
Created bySubhash Kapoor
Written bySubhash Kapoor and Nandan Singh
Directed byKaran Sharma
Starring
Country of originIndia
Original languageHindi
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
ProducerNaren Kumar & Dimple Kharbanda[1]
EditorKunal Walve
Production companyKangra Talkies
DistributorSonyLIV
Release
Original networkSonyLIV
Original release28 May 2021 (2021-05-28)
External links
Maharani

Maharani (transl. Empress) is an 2021 Indian Hindi-language drama streaming television series created by Subhash Kapoor.[2] The series is directed by Karan Sharma.[3][4] The series stars Huma Qureshi as the protagonist[5][6] along with Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, Kani Kusruti and Inaamulhaq.[7][8][9] The political multi-seasons series is partly inspired by what happened in Bihar in the 1990s when Lalu Prasad Yadav made his homemaker wife Rabri Devi his successor.[10]

Maharani premiered on SonyLIV on May 28, 2021.[11]

Premise[]

This is a fictional story, where Rani Bharti (Huma Qureshi) is a homemaker and the wife of Bihar's chief minister Bheema (Sohum Shah). All she cares about is her house and her husband. She wants to pack her bags and go back to the village after her husband resigns from the post of Bihar's CM. But her life takes a turn when her husband and Bihar's CM is made to announce the name of his successor. While his party members look excited to hear who has been appointed, he makes Rani his successor, leaving everyone surprised.

Cast[]

  • Huma Qureshi as Rani Bharti, wife of Bihar's chief minister Bheema
  • Sohum Shah as Bihar's chief minister Bheema Bharti
  • Amit Sial as Navin Kumar
  • as Satyendranath Mishra
  • Kani Kusruti as Kaveri Sridharan, Rani's secretary
  • Inaamulhaq as Parvez Alam
  • Vineet Kumar as Gauri Shankar Pandey
  • Tanu Vidyarthi as Khyati
  • Harish Khanna as Shankar Mahto
  • Mohammad Aashiq Hussain as Prem Kumar Chaubey
  • Sushil Pandey as Kunwar Singh
  • Kannan Arunachalam as DGP Siddhant Gautam
  • Atul Tiwari as Governor Goverdhan Daas
  • Pankaj Jhaa as Diwakar

Production[]

Sohum Shah gained a whopping 12 kg to get look of the politician Bheema, which has been modelled on the basis of Lalu Prasad Yadav.[12] In November 2020, some portions were shot in Kachnariya Kothi, Bhopal.[13] In April 2021, the shooting for web series was also done in Legislative Assembly (LA) Jammu complex of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu.[14] Around 250 local artists from the theatre and cultural department in Jammu and Kashmir are being roped in for the web-series.[15][16] Some drone shots of J.P. Setu and Buddha Smriti Park were also shown in the web series. The shooting of Maharani was completed in seven months.[17]

Reception[]

Critical response[]

Writing for The Firstpost, Prathyush Parasuraman gave the series 3 stars and stated that Huma Qureshi shines in a sanitised portrayal of Rabri Devi.[18] Rohan Naahar stated in The Hindustan Times that the series is over-plotted yet underwritten.[19] Archika Khurana wrote in Times of India that the web series is engaging at most times.[20]

The Times Of India described it as a “well-structured screenplay”,[21] while Biz Asia pointed out how the show brings the importance of virtue to the forefront.[22] Actress Twinkle Khanna praised the performance of Huma Qureshi in the web series.[23] Actor Shatrughan Sinha also praised Maharani and said that Huma Qureshi has the potential of becoming a role model for other artists.[24][25]

Rishita Roy Chowdhury of India Today said the series is about Saheb, Biwi aur Bihar.[26] Rohit Vats of News18 gave Maharani 2.5 stars.[27] The Quint mentioned that Maharani lives up to the hype.[28] Aditya Menon in The Quint wrote that the web series trid to invert the ‘Jungle Raj’ tag that was put on the Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi period in Bihar.[29] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV wrote that Maharani is a passable account of a state fighting steady decline and seeking regeneration.[30]

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express stated that Huma Qureshi flourishes in a web series with banal writing.[31]

Subhash. K.Jha called it a taut political drama with surprising twists and turns.[32] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in wrote that the cast of Maharani has brilliant performances.[33]

Rony Patra from stated that strong characters and an authentic Bihari milieu coupled with “bombastic dialogues” made the series a gripping watch. Rishita Roy Chowdhury of India Today went on to applaud Huma Qureshi's performance saying” she brings nuances and emotional gradients to her character.[34]

Bollywood Life called it a sensational and intriguing game of political chess.[35] Kriti Tulsiani from ZoomTV wrote that the show boasts of a captivating premise but falls victim to the makers’ linear storytelling approach.[36]

BINGED called it a well-crafted chronicle of a story that needed telling.[37]

Spotboye made the parallel with Scam 1992, calling it another big winner for SonyLIV.[38]

Controversy[]

After the release of first trailer on 9 May 2021, Yadav community protested over a dialogue in the web series and filed FIR.[39] The makers of web series later apologized and removed that dialogue from the web series.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ MumbaiMay 28, Shweta Keshri. "Sohum Shah watched videos of Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad to prepare for Maharani". India Today. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Maharani teaser: Huma Qureshi is queen in the making in Subhash Kapoor's political drama".
  3. ^ "Maharani trailer: Huma Qureshi's Rani is a woman forced into a man's world in this political drama".
  4. ^ "EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Huma Qureshi stars as Rani Bharti in SonyLIV's political drama Maharani".
  5. ^ "Huma Qureshi maintains effortless put-together vibe in orange midi dress worth Rs. 11,300 for Maharani promotions".
  6. ^ "Huma Qureshi All Set to Play Games in Political Thriller Maharani".
  7. ^ "Huma Qureshi undergoes complete makeover to play Bihar CM in Maharani. Teaser out".
  8. ^ "Exclusive First Look: Huma Qureshi Stars As Rani Bharti In Political Drama 'Maharani'".
  9. ^ "Exclusive! Maharani: Amit Sial and Sohum Shah's character look revealed".
  10. ^ "Bollywood's Mayawati, Rabri Devi biopics easy. Will it ever touch BJP-RSS leaders?".
  11. ^ "Maharani trailer: Huma Qureshi's character changes the dynamics of Bihar politics in this gripping video".
  12. ^ "Sohum Shah wraps up shoot for his upcoming film 'Maharani'".
  13. ^ "भोपाल में चल रही शूटिंग:कौन है यह महारानी, जो मुख्यमंत्री बन गई".
  14. ^ "LA complex in Jammu gears up for 'Maharani' shoot today".
  15. ^ "Jammu: महारानी वेब सीरीज में मिला जम्मू के रिकार्ड कलाकारों को मौका".
  16. ^ "Film Shooting in Assembly: जम्‍मू-कश्‍मीर ने पहली बार बालीवुड के लिए खोल दिए विधानसभा के द्वार".
  17. ^ "Sohum Shah on comparisons with Lalu Prasad Yadav after Maharani: 'Expected this but it's a fictional story'".
  18. ^ "Maharani review: Huma Qureshi shines in a sanitised portrayal of Rabri Devi to form an engaging political drama".
  19. ^ "Maharani review: Huma Qureshi tries her best, but SonyLIV's hollow show is over-plotted yet underwritten".
  20. ^ "Maharani - Season 1 review".
  21. ^ "Maharani Review: Maharani". The Times Of India. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  22. ^ Tanna, Amrita (2021-05-27). "Digital Review: 'Maharani' (Sony LIV)". BizAsia | Media, Entertainment, Showbiz, Brit, Events and Music. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Twinkle Khanna reviews Huma Qureshi's new show Maharani, notices 'little touches' that add realism".
  24. ^ "Shatrughan Sinha praises Huma Qureshi's performance in Maharani; says she has the potential of becoming a role model for other artists".
  25. ^ "Shatrughan Sinha is all praise for Huma Qureshi; actress thanks 'Teesre Badshah' for the love".
  26. ^ "Maharani Review: Huma Qureshi's political drama is about Saheb, Biwi aur Bihar".
  27. ^ "Maharani Review: Opportunists Everywhere in Huma Qureshi and Sohum Shah's Show".
  28. ^ "SonyLIV's 'Maharani' Totally Lives Up To The Hype!".
  29. ^ "Jungle Raj Inverted: 'Maharani' Gets Caste Better Than Many Others".
  30. ^ "Maharani Review: Huma Qureshi-Led Cast Plugs Gaps In Tale Of Ambition And Betrayal".
  31. ^ "Maharani review: After a few flourishes, this Huma Qureshi drama is just a drag".
  32. ^ Jha, Subhash K. (2021-05-29). ""Maharani is strongly recommended." – A Subhash K Jha Review". BollySpice. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  33. ^ "'Maharani' review: This potboiler about Bihar politics never stops simmering".
  34. ^ Patra, Rony. "Maharani Sony LIV Original Series Review". . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Maharani web series review: Huma Qureshi is sensational in this intriguing game of political chess". Bollywood Life. 2021-05-28. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Maharani Review: Huma Qureshi-led 'Sahib, Biwi aur Bihar' political drama off to intriguing start". Zoom TV. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  37. ^ Bureau, Binged (2021-05-27). "Maharani Web Series Review - Well-Crafted Chronicle Of A Story That Needed Telling". Binged. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Maharani Review: Rabri Devi's Saga Featuring Huma Qureshi Gets An Outrageous But Interesting Spin". SpotboyE. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  39. ^ "झारखंड: 'महारानी' वेब सीरीज के रिलीज होने से पहले बढ़ा बवाल, यादव महासभा ने दर्ज कराया ऑनलाइन FIR".

External links[]

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