Maharani, hard-hitting political drama on SonyLIV, receives acclaim
As much as we love being transported to an imaginary world replete with fictional characters, shows based on real life connect us to the past in a way unmatched. The newly released web series Maharani, streaming on SonyLIV, one of the leading OTT players in the country, does just that. It takes one back to the ’90s, into the turbulent politics of Bihar during that decade.
The story revolves around an uneducated homemaker-turnedpolitician, portrayed by actor Huma Qureshi, struggling to find a footing in a male-dominated world. The narrative also highlights the embedded class differences in Bihar’s feudal society.
The 10-episode show, created by Subhash Kapoor and directed by Karan Sharma, has garnered rave reviews. Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari says, “It’s a story that strikes a chord with its brilliant script and performance. The character of Rani Bharti, played by Huma, brings to life the obstacles faced by a woman in a patriarchal society, trying to find her place. Maharani is definitely a series to watch for its insightful storytelling and performance.”
And actors such as Sohum Shah and Amit Sial, besides Qureshi, have brought alive an interesting phase of Indian politics on screen, highlighting every emotion be it anger, love, laughter, joy or grief.
While it is set in the ’90s, an era many young viewers may not be familiar with, its hard-hitting theme is relevant even in today’s time. As filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda says, “Maharani is a visually captivating story that keeps you hooked till the end. Stories like these bring about a change and are important in today’s time. Packed with brilliant dialogues and a well-structured screenplay, each character shines as the story unfolds. Maharani is undoubtedly worth the watch!”