#Review: Anushka Sen's 'Jhansi Ki Rani' manages to make a HUGE impact with MINOR flaws

The latest presentation on Colors stars Anushka Sen in the titular role...

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Kunal Nirmal Kothari

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The wave and unwanted hullabaloo around Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi would have been enough to give Colors' latest show, Khoob Ladi Mardaani - Jhansi Ki Rani the buzz it needs. While that was prevalent, Jhansi Ki Rani had its own anticipation among the TV folks out there. The show finally went on-air last night and here is our review of the same.

The Story



Beginning rather quintessentially, a montage leads us through how British conquered Indians and the current scenario is how Peshwa Bajirao II is the King right now and has his ministers with him too. While on a training drill of sorts, we witness the anticipated but fantastic entry of Manikarnika aka Manu (Anushka Sen). Albeit she has a cliched entry but she makes an impact immediately with the same. What follows is predictable where Tatya, Manikarnika and another kid compete in the training drill and obviously, she wins it.



What follows is the first showdown between a British officer and Manikarnika, where the latter just can't fathom on how and why is her grandfather bowing down to the British. But, she is shushed and the situation goes on. Then comes the most bromide representation of an evil British officer of Captain Ross (Jason Shah). He is strategizing and plotting with Rani Jankibai (Anuja Sathe) while we see flashes of his absolute cruelty. Jankibai's negative side is shown even better when she fulfils the deed of killing off Raja Gangadhar's (Vikkas Manaktala) first child just as he is born. This also leads to the death of Gangadhar's first wife as her dying wish is that her husband marries again.



The episode ends with Manu not able to sustain her angst and invading a British settlement as she climbs and claws her way up to the tower where the British flag is being hoisted. Evidently, she takes the flag off and puts on the orange Maratha flag instead screaming 'Har Har Mahadev.'

The Good



The little nuances which are unspoken but there is what makes the show truly amazing. From the fact that over umpteen years ago, Bajirao did not discriminate between boy and girl child and maintains equality is an amazing sight to see to the instance where Manu removes the British flag. Unlike being overtly patriotic, it is made sure that the British flag being thrown away or something disrespectful is not portrayed which could have easily been the case otherwise.



Anushka Sen as Manikarnika is absolutely phenomenal. Not only does she have the poise and fierceness of playing the titular role but also the quietness chirp and innocence of a young girl that the character needs. Vijay Kashyap as Peshwa Bajirao, Rajesh Shringarpure as Morpant, Anuja Sathe as Jankibai and Vikkas Manaktala as Gangadhar Rao also make an instant impact with their acting prowess in the show.

The first impression that is left on us is truly amazing as we get to hear the amazing Vijay Raaz doing the narration and Kailash Kher's perfectly sung title track.



The fight sequences and special effects along with the setting also deserve a special mention of being up to the mark.

The Not-So-Good



It isn't that people may not have been talking the way we see freedom fighters talking back then. But the fact that it has been done so much over the years makes it come across as a tad jingoistic and monotonous too. Dialogues like 'yeh dharti meri maa hai' do not announce the same patriotic feels anymore only because of being overdone so much.



Jason Shah's Captain Ross is textbook bad man, but what is worse is the stereotypical portrayal of the British officer. Loud, cunning, ruthless and other things can be portrayed in a poised manner too, but Jason's portrayal is weak and we hope it gets better ahead.

The Verdict



The show certainly lives up to the hype it created and with being a lot less jingoistic and much more informative and entertaining, Khoob Ladi Mardaani - Jhansi Ki Rani seems a certain winner to have on the small screen.

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)

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Rajesh Shringarpure Thumbnail

Rajesh Shringarpure

Vikkas Manaktala Thumbnail

Vikkas Manaktala

Vijay Kashyap Thumbnail

Vijay Kashyap

Anushka Sen Thumbnail

Anushka Sen

Anuja Sathe Thumbnail

Anuja Sathe

Khoob Ladi Mardaani - Jhansi Ki Rani poster

Khoob Ladi Mardaani - Jhansi Ki Rani

Colors thumbnail

Colors

Comments (7)

@Arnav Zee has one of the crappiest shows. The amount of violence dragging storyline.

6:30 Pm Raja Beta is cheap crap copy of a 90's Film. Internet Wala Love is anyday better.

7Pm Yeh Teri Galliyan using same old crap TRP tricks. Forced marriage Bride Groom Swap and all nonsense. Udaan still has a good story without dragging.

7:30 Pm Mohini is just crap VFX with disgusting Marathi Rajasthani Chudail. No story line and all nonsense. Ishq Mein Marjawaan is a thriller and entertaining atleast.

8 Pm Guddan is just a role reversal of Gopi Bahu. Cooker Blast Santa Claus Party Bomb Blast all TRP cliched tracks. Shakti is still better with a good storyline after 2 years.

8:30 Tujhse Raabta is one of the most disgusting show. Young Teenage Girl saving family. Forced to stand on Ice Slab etc. Kesari Nandan is far better with a good story and cast.

9-10 Pm Bhagya Nonsense. Same rinse and repeat dragging storyline.
Gathbandhan and Jhansi Ki Raani are much better for refreshing entertainment.

10 Pm Ishq Subhanallah. Deserves to go off air. Triple talaq concept kaham gayab nobody knows bas Time Pass. Roop story is atleast progressive and male centric.

10:30 Aap Ke Aa Jaane Se Copy of Colors Old show Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. Old Lady Young Lover.

Copy Cat Zee hai. Sabse Ghatiya shows and dragging storyline.

5 years ago

@ArnavMalhotra: Since you spoke nicely even I won't say anything wrong to you. I know the circumstances but that does not justify domestic violence that also by an ACP to a 18 year old teen. IMM is crap but that does not make THR any better. Even Zee TV copies not just any other channel. From when TRPs decide which show is good or bad? The shows which are good gets low TRPs while the shows which are bad gets more TRPs. Ab tak to tumhe samajh jaana chaahiye tha. Zee TV has equally crap shows like others. But earlier it do had good shows where heroes did not abused heroines. The last good show on Zee TV was Jamai Raja.

5 years ago

@angel_juhi04 You probably don't even know the circumstances which lead to Kalyani and Malhar's marriage in the new super duper hit blockbuster show, Tujhse Hai Raabta. Moreover, I don't want to quarrel, I'm a peaceful person. Ishq Mein Marjawan also promotes violence against women and misogyny. All I want to say is that it disgusts me how this pathetic channel called Colors keeps copying my Zee TV trying to get ahead in the trp race.

Anyways, I'm happy to see that Zee has defeated Colors in literally all slots.

6.30 slot Raaja Betaa (0.8) and IWL (0.8) have equal trp but Raaja Betaa airs 6 times a week and IWL just 5.

7pm slot YTG (1.9) has defeated Udaan (1.1)

7.30 slot ManMohini (1.5) has defeated Ishq Mein Marjawan (1.4)

8pm slot Guddan (2.5) has defeated Shakti (2.2)

8.30 slot Raabta (3.2) has defeated Dangal Copy Paste aka Kesari Nandan (1.3)

9pm slot Kumkum Bhagya (2.6) has defeated Gathbandhan (1.3)

9.30 slot Obviously my Kundali Bhagya (2.9) has defeated Tantra (0.3)

10pm slot ISA (2.4) has defeated Roop (1.1)

10.30 slot Aapke Aa Jaane Se (1.3) has defeated Sitara (0.8)

5 years ago

@ArnavMalhotra: This JKR is of Contiloe who also made JKR of Zee TV so they can copy their own old show if they want. And JKR is anyway historical show so they won't change history to make sure they are not copying any show. First look at your own beloved Zee TV shows before pointing to other channel shows. Zee TV's so called top show promotes domestic violence that also by a cop to his 18 year old 2nd wife. Which 18 year old changes diapers of her sautan's illegitimate baby???

5 years ago

@Alpha_Ka_Gamma Haters gonna hate.

#ZEETV #AAJLIKHENGEKAL

5 years ago

Loved first episode. Colors JKR looks realistic and far better in screen play VFX and storyline.

Hope it rocks 9:30 slot and beats that crap Kundali Nonsense.


@Arnav. Just shut up and mind your language. The same amount of hatred i have for your crap shows of Zee SP but have never posted anything disgusting like you.

5 years ago

COPY OF JKR OF MY ZEE TV

SHAMELESS THIEF COLORS COME UP WITH ORIGINAL IDEAS I KNOW U ARE JEALOUS OF MY ZEE TV AND STAR PLUS BUT HAVE SOME STANDARD

WITHOUT NAAGIN AND KKK SUPER FLOP CHANNEL, ALL WEEKDAY SHOWS FLOP EXCELT SHAKTI (WHICH IS ALSO OTT DRAMA AND NEVER SHOWS ACTUAL PLIGHT FACED BY KINNERS, JUST SHOWS MELODRAMA)

5 years ago

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