Jhansi Ki Rani (TV series)

Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahaani... Jhansi Ki Rani (English: The Story of a Brave Woman... The Queen of Jhansi) is an Indian historical drama based on the life of Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi. The series was directed by Jitendra Srivastava and written by Rajesh Saksham, Ila Dutta Bedi, Malavika Asthana and Mairaj Zaidi. It premiered on 18 August 2009 on Zee TV with Ulka Gupta playing Queen Lakshmi Bai. On 8 June 2010, the story moved on several years and Kratika Sengar portrayed the Queen from there on. The show's last episode aired on 19 June 2011.

Plot

Jhansi Ki Rani begins with Manikarnika (Manu) at age 14. She lives with her father, Moropant Tambe, a pandit in the Bithoor court of Peshwa Baji Rao II and Nana Saheb. Manu is trained in the arts of war by Tatya Tope. She despises the British rule of India, and takes the form of Kranti Guru to combat it. Manu is a thorn in the side of Manson, a British official. She marries Jhansi's maharaja, Ganghadar Rao Newalkar; her name changes to Lakshmi Bai, and her life changes drasically. At Jhansi a servant, Moti Bai, collaborates with British officer Captain Fraser but changes sides after meeting Rani. Another officer, Marshal, kills Prachi (Baji Rao's daughter) and is killed by Kranti Guru in revenge. When the maharaja discovers that Kranti Guru is Rani, their relationship deteriorates. He agrees with a British officer that Kranti Guru will not be accused of Marshal's death if he hands over Rani's friend, Samar Singh. When Rani saves Samar, the maharaja casts her away.

When Rani sees the British mistreating villagers outside Jhansi, she persuades them to fight. She finds Samar Singh (who helps her) and Karma (who wants to kill the maharaja). Captain Martin promises Karma the leadership of the villages if he works for them, but he then betrays him. Rani saves Karma, who becomes an ally. Martin challenges Rani (disguised as a man, Raja) to fight against a madman; Raja wins the fight, but is then revealed as Rani. The maharaja takes her back as the maharani; Martin retires, and is replaced by Captains Malcom and Ross.

After several failed attempts to kill the maharaja, Captain Nelson kills Ross; Samar Singh is framed for the murder and hanged. Rani visits Baji Rao, who is severely ill in Bithoor; he dies while Manson tries to conquer Bithoor Fort. Rani fights victoriously, and cuts off Manson's leg. She gives birth to Damodar Rao, and adopts Anand Rao. Nelson kills Damodar, Ali Bahadur kills the maharaja and Captain Hamilton is sent to Jhansi to subdue it. Rani renames Anand Damodar and wages war against the East India Company against the backdrop of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Hamilton pits Jhansi and the city of Orchha against each other; Orchha's queen, Ladai Sarkar, is sympathetic to the British and holds a grudge against Jhansi. The victorious Rani returns to a conquered Jhansi, which she reclaims after threatening the life of the 1st Earl of Dalhouise. Nelson frames her for the death of the king of Mot, and when Ladai Sarkar (the king's sister-in-law) captures Rani he betrays Sarkar. The queens become allies in prison, and after Rani escapes she kills Nelson. Queen Victoria sends General Hugh Henry Rose, who helps Hamilton capture Prince Damodar, as a replacement. After Rani saves her son's life she kills Hamilton; Hugh Rose's army attacks Jhansi Fort, where many of her loyal followers and allies (Guass Khan, Karma, Moropant Tambe, Jhalkaribai, Ladai Sarkar, Kashi and Vahini Saheb) die. Bithoor is conquered, King Nana Saheb flees to Nepal and Rani is shot dead by Captain Gall.

Cast

Indians

Kratika Sengar portrayed Rani Lakshmi Bai as an adult from 8 June 2010

Englishmen

Crew

• Director = Bhatti, Talat jani,
• Producer = Dharmesh Shah
• Project head = Vipul Jagota (Daddu) and Rajul Shah
• Supervising Producer = Tanveer Alam
• Executive Producer = Sushil Jain
• Scheduler =
• HOP = Anil Rao
• Editor = Paresh Shah

Other broadcast versions

• The serial currently airs free to air on Dangal (TV channel) and Zee Anmol
• An Arabic dubbed version is broadcasting on Zee Alwan since 19 September 2012 under the name "ملكة جانسي" Arabic for "Malikat Jhansi; Queen of Jhansi".
• The Hindi version of the serial with English subtitles debuted on Zee TV USA and ATN Canada on 10 October 2011 and ended c. August 2013.
• The drama was dubbed in Kurdish as "شاژنی جانسی" Kurdish for "Shajni Jhansi; Queen of Jhansi" on Kurdish satellite channel Kurdsat in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The language of the drama in Sorani dialect of Kurdish language.
• Jhansi Ki Rani has been dubbed in Marathi and this version started airing on 31 October 2011; it was broadcast on Zee Marathi as Jhansichi Rani.
• The drama was dubbed in Tamil as Jhansi Rani and broadcast on Zee Tamil. The Tamil version of the drama came to an end on 27 January 2012.
• The drama was dubbed in Telugu as Veera Naari Jhansi Lakshmi and broadcast on Zee Telugu. This Telugu version came to an end on 4 February 2012.
• The English language version is broadcasting on BUKEDDE TV.1 UGANDA since 14 November 2013 as Jhansi Ki Rani (The Warrier Queen Of jhansi).

Reception

Historical accuracy

The drama was praised for the historical accuracy of the dresses and ornaments worn by the characters. However, doubts were raised on the authenticity of "Ek Veer Stree Ki Kahani... Jhansi Ki Rani" by some historians. Jhansi-based historian Professor Jawaharlal Kanchan protested that the drama is playing with history and providing incorrect information to young minds.^[3] Dr A. K. Pandey, director, State Museum, Jhansi states, "makers of the serial should understand that they cannot distort historical facts just for the sake of TRPs."^[1]

Reactions from orthodox viewers

Certain reactions from orthodox Indian viewers and historians were negative. The director of the State Museum (Dr A. K. Pandey) at Jhansi states, "Rani Lakshmi Bai is like a goddess to us and seeing her story presented in a distorted manner is painful. Showing intimate bedroom scenes of Jhansi ki Rani is also unacceptable." Dharmesh Shah, the director of the drama defends the protests by pointing out, "The British ruled that any kingdom without an heir would be annexed by the East India Company. So Rani Laxmi Bai wanted an heir, because of which we were required to show those intimate scenes. There is no need of creating a hullabaloo."^[1]

Awards

2010 Zee Gold Awards^[4]

• Best Videography(Fiction) - Deepak Pandey
• 'Best Art Direction - Sandesh Gondhalekar
• Best Editing
• Performer of the Year - Ulka Gupta

2010 FICCI Award

• Best Entertainer of the Year^[5]
• Ulka Gupta

See also

• The Revolt of 1857
• 1857 Kranti (TV series)

References