Maharani Review: Huma Qureshi’s political drama is about Saheb, Biwi aur Bihar

Subhash Kapoor’s political drama, Maharani, follows the journey and struggles of Huma Qureshi’s Rani Bharti as Bihar’s Chief Minister. The SonyLiv series also stars Sohum Shah, Amit Sial, Kani Kusruti and Inaam Ul Haq.

Bihar politics and issues have been fodder for cinema and television for a long time. So have been the controversies surrounding the political personalities depicted on screen for the audience. Remember how Katrina Kaif's character in Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti was speculated to be inspired by Sonia Gandhi? Well, that was then, Huma Qureshi’s Maharani is now. Created by Subhash Kapoor, the series follows the rise of a homemaker in Bihar politics as the State’s Chief Minister. She is put there by former CM and her incapacitated husband, in a bid to retain power over Bihar’s political affairs. Who does this remind you of? Well, ever since the series was announced, viewers likened Huma’s Rani Bharti to Rabri Devi. The series is set in the 90s, which was when Lalu Prasad Yadav made his wife his successor after an arrest warrant was issued against him following corruption charges. The makers insist that the similarities end with a woman becoming Bihar CM. We say comparisons will still be drawn. Maharani takes a deep dive into caste issues, violence, corruption and the faults in Bihar’s law and order situation. Directed by Karan Sharma, the series begins with a lower-caste man, whose family has been consigned to a lifetime of servitude, trying to break free. He now addresses his ‘maalik’ as ‘sir’, which doesn’t end well. His hope comes from CM Bheema Bharti (Sohum Shah), who represents backward castes and is trying to eradicate their problems.