Very few Indian shows have gone on to have successful multi-seasons.
Maharani delivered two outstanding installments when no Hindi series impressed beyond the first edition.
The political drama is back for its third outing on SonyLiv.
With eight episodes and a length of around six hours, can Maharani repeat its past success?
Maharani Season 3 Synopsis
Rani Bharti, who was sent to prison at the end of the second season, doesn’t want to get bail. Her plan is revenge without making even the slightest of sounds.
Naveen Kumar and his allies enjoy the fruits of ruling Bihar.
But somewhere down the line, discontentment finds a way in. Who will win the battle?
The third season is created by Subhash Kapoor and directed by Saurabh Bhave. The cast repeats previous faces.
It includes Huma Qureshi (Rani Bharti), Amit Sial (Naveen Kumar), Dibyendu Bhattacharya (Martin), Vineet Kumar (Gauri Shankar), Anuja Sathe (Kirti), Pramod Pathak (SN Mishra), Kani Kusruti (Kaveri), Danish Iqbal (Dilshad), Ashique Hussain (Prem Kumar), Sushil Pandey (Kunwar), and others.
What Works for Maharani Season 3?
The series starts on a high note with several local scenes, including cops, politicians, and their innate side effects.
Maharani season 3 takes a three-year leap most of which Rani Bharti has spent in jail, completing her schooling. But away from the public life, she has it all planned on how to take revenge for Bheema Bharti’s murder. On the other hand, Naveen Kumar, the CM, manages to sail through until his coalition partners turn up against one another for a thing that is banned in Bihar (even in real life): Alcohol.
Maharani Season 3 Plot Overview
The storyline converts from a political behemoth to a revenge saga, where a wife will do anything to avenge his husband’s brutal killing.
But the clinching part for Maharani season 3 is how the plan is hitched. Nothing is done overtly.
The usual flashiness we are used to takes a backseat in this outing.
Moreover, the series’ music soothes the soul.
There is a song on ‘alcohol ban,’ which specifically impresses through its humorous rendition.
Maharani season 3 has a natural pace and it justifies the political drama. Lastly, the climactic moments are strongly presented.
They are the sole sailors in a season of rough oceans.
How are the Performances?
As a rule of thumb, I don’t repeat talking about actors whose performances I have already described previously in a franchise.
Therefore, let’s quickly discuss the two lead protagonists and then move to the supporting cast.
Huma Qureshi doesn’t get the chance to go full-throttle mode this time around. She steadily relies on her fierce expressions and a stealthy dialogue delivery to lead from the front.
Amit Sial continues to be the natural actor he is known for. In the role of the Chief Minister, he brings a more responsible mien into play.
Anuja Sathe, who was added to the plot in the second season to portray Kirti Singh, gets more prominence but little or the same screen time.
Her act is a bright example of how a character can remain relevant despite not being seen. However, I desperately wanted her to be shown a bit differently than a ‘helpless woman.’
Last time, when talking about Kani Kusruti, I expected Kaveri to grow more. Sadly, that doesn’t happen and you only find her in very few scenes, that too, thin and unimportant.
Danish Iqbal has been carrying Dilshad comfortably enough for the past seasons. Again, in the third edition, the actor aces the accent, the composure, and the bossy side stance.
Ashique Hussain as Prem Kumar delivers like usual. His wittiness keeps the fun alive in Maharani. He is also one of the actors who do not get rewarded for their work in the Film or TV industry.
Sushil Pandey depicts Kunwar in a very minor role this time when compared to the second season. However, Pandey leaves a long-lasting impact through his ‘angry middle aged man’ demeanor.
What Doesn’t Work for Maharani Season 3?
Sadly, many factors contribute to the fall of the once brilliant series. First and foremost, I don’t understand why was there no recap in the beginning.
For someone who watched Maharani in 2022, it is tough to revisit inside the head the minor references or characters that come later on.
The show’s overdramatic scenes are also among its major woes. It sometimes tries to cover rigidity through drama.
You won’t find the same allure in the very few Legislative Assembly sequences like before.
Maharani season 3 has a stagnant storyline. This is partly due to the show’s transformation into a revenge drama from a political one.
It doesn’t meander like earlier and stays at a particular place for far too long. In the process, the series becomes predictable.
When a strong protagonist goes on a vengeance spree, it is largely foreseeable that she will succeed, come what may.
Not just that, even other branches of the story can be guessed with ease.
Furthermore, I was particularly impressed by Maharani’s screenplay in the past two installments.
However, the third season completely disappoints in this department. It lacks engagement, strong storytelling, and an ensnaring dramatic core. What you get is a quite bland presentation of sorts.
The sheer lack of new characters makes Maharani uninteresting and repetitive.
The same people fight for the same thing once again. Where is the creativity? The bewitching brilliance of captivating infusions?
Maharani season 3 is the exact opposite of its predecessor, both in terms of execution and substance.
It fails to engage and interact with the audience. There are no evocative measures taken by the creators.
Huma Qureshi herself doesn’t have a strong portfolio, which is a statement enough to assess its prowess.
Stream or Skip?
From a recurrent viewer’s perspective, Maharani Season 3 is a major disappointment. You should stop at the first two parts, in my opinion.