Just like the previous two seasons, the web show shines the brightest when it focuses on the politics of Bihar.
- Main Cast: Huma Qureshi, Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya
- Director: Saurabh Bhave
- Producer: Naren Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda
- Music Director: Rohit Sharma
- Cinematography: Anup Singh
- Genre: Political Drama
- Episodes: 8
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Published in: Southfirst
For those who haven’t seen the first two seasons, Maharani—created and written by Subhash Kapoor, is loosely inspired by the incidents in the 1990s Bihar.
It was when seasoned politician Lalu Prasad Yadav declared and made his homemaker-wife Rabri Devi his successor.
Season 1
The first season of Maharani was set from 1995 to 1999 and had characters inspired by Naxal and left-wing militants.
Rani Bharati (Huma Quereshi) is the wife of Bihar CM Bheema Bharti (Sohum Shah). In unforeseen circumstances, Bheema Bharti gets severely wounded and appoints his wife Rani as a technical CM until he recovers.
Rani Bharti is a simple woman who is happy with her domestic life. But now, she has to deal with government files, corruption and the caste massacres happening within the state.
In addition, she is not a literate woman.
Initially, Rani Bharti feels like a fish out of the water and wants to return to her simple life. But, eventually, she becomes a firm administrator and wins admirers.
As she grows more confident the inevitable clashes with her husband happen. Season 1 ended with Bheema Bharti going to jail on charges of corruption.
Season 2
In Season 2, Bheema runs a proxy government from jail. Bharti is facing opposition from her husband and the rival politician Naveen Kumar (Amit Sial).
Naveen and Bheema used to be friends. But now, they are big-time foes.
The issues dealt with this backdrop were the demand for a separate Jharkhand state along with the chilling death of Shilpi Jain and Gautam Singh that sent shock waves for both Rani and the state of Bihar.
In this scenario, some of Rani’s decisions don’t go well with her party members. Season 2 ended with Rani Bharti going to jail for a crime she did not commit, and the death of her husband Bheema.
Season 3
Now, you have Season 3, after a gap of one and a half years.
Maharani Season 3 begins with the life of Rani Bharti in prison. She utilises her time in jail to complete her education, which she left midway because of her father.
Rani Bharti also makes moves to strike back against her opponents. In simple terms, Season 3 focuses on how Rani Bharti proves her innocence and comes out of the complex web orchestrated by the cunning Navin Kumar.
The series plays out like an intense game of chess after a point.
Analysis
A strong point of Maharani Season 3 is the socio-political commentary.
Director Saurabh Bhave touches upon the illegal sale of liquor despite an alcohol ban in the state. He presents an authentic picture of how this illegal sale leads to the flourishing of illicit crimes.
Apart from the illegal sale of liquor the show also dwells on unauthorized dealings and the brutal electoral tactics.
Saurabh Bhave has also done a good job of showcasing the effect of power struggles and how nasty the political landscape can be. The cutthroat world of politics keeps the viewers thoroughly engaged even when the proceedings become predictable and slightly tedious.
The clinical way Rani Bharati goes about her revenge and completes her education has been well presented.
On the flipside, some twists suffer from weak writing and the middle portions could have done with more thrills.
Huma Quereshi steals the show
Huma Quereshi successfully takes off from where she left off in the first two seasons. She nails the accent and portrays the inner strength of a woman who has come a long way from being called a misfit.
Amit Sial continues to be wickedly charming showcasing the shrewd demeanour of Naveen Kumar perfectly.
The other supporting characters played by Vineet Kumar and Dibyendu Bhattacharya are also in fine form.
Rohit Sharma’s music and Mangesh Dhadke’s background score add another layer to the show.
The song “Kaun Bola Ban Hai” particularly deserves a mention for its satirical tone about the supposed alcohol ban.
Verdict
Maharani Season 3 is a must-watch for those who like political thrillers.
It is streaming on Sony Liv.
