Maharani season 4 review: An underwhelming political drama we wouldn't vote for!

Helmed by Puneet Prakash, Maharani season 4 is at best a middling watch that is saved by Huma Qureshi's performance and a satisfying climax. 

As political fervor reaches its zenith with the commencement of the high-stakes Bihar elections - a state where women voters are believed to be the ultimate kingmakers - it was only fitting for SonyLIV to drop the fourth installment of its political drama titled Maharani, starring Huma Qureshi. While we absolutely love the sight of an underdog, especially women turning the tides in their favour and staging upsets in power corridors, after two acclaimed seasons and a forgettable third outing, it’s high time makers orchestrate a decisive revolution to retain its throne as one of the most popular shows in the Indian OTT space. 

Created by Subhash Kapoor, the fourth season of Maharani takes the political drama to the national stage, with Rani Bharti(Huma Qureshi) expanding her political battle beyond the state of Bihar into the power centres of Delhi. The season opens with Prime Minister Joshi’s (Vipin Sharma) coalition government enduring the challenge of losing the majority, a crisis over which Joshi seeks Bharti’s help. The home-maker-turned-politician, however, refuses his offer, as we then see her setting her eyes on a larger role, forging alliances, facing betrayals, and engaging in a direct battle with Joshi in the quest for the country’s highest chair, leading into a high-voltage tussle of might and wits. 

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The first episode sets the tone for the show impressively well, promising an explosive storyline, establishing the rivalries, complex conspiracies, and the scope for a possible shift in allegiances. However, as the episodes progress, the series feels like an underwhelming experience marked by unengaging narration, predictable twists and an exhaustingly-stretched run-time of 8 episodes of roughly 50 minutes each. ‘Personal is political and political is personal’ is a dialogue that best captures the essence of the season. One of the key focuses of the show is how family and romantic dynamics of the lead characters shape the decisions and course of the future, however, they fail to connect with you at a personal level. Qureshi, as Bharti surely moves you from time to time in her endeavors to safeguard and empower her family, however, the rest fail to get you emotionally invested, making you indifferent to their arcs and development. Vipin Sharma does an impressive job as a self-absorbed political leader with multiple shades, who is determined to cling to power at all costs. Qureshi, yet again, shows she lives and breathes Rani Bharti as she nails the embodiment of her resilient demeanor, confident tone, and the near-perfect diction that make her super convincing as the character. 

The drama does a fair job in keeping the narrative simple and coherent despite multiple plotlines. You do understand the complexities of coalitions, the convoluted below-the-table deals, and the dirty tricks that the notorious power-brokers deploy, however, the events feel familiar and are largely predictable with little to no shock value. Here’s a little secret - if you've watched the trailer, you've covered the first six episodes of the show. The story takes a satisfying turn towards its end as it offers a hard-hitting climax, setting the prelude for the next season on an exciting note! 

Maharani 4 is now streaming on SonyLiv!

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