Title: Mahar. 3
Director: Saurabh Bhave
Cast: Huma Qureshi, Amit Sial, Vineet Kumar, Pramod Pathak, K. Kusruti, Anuja Sathe, Sushil Pandey, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Sohum Shah
Where: Streaming on SonyLiv
Rating: 3.5 stars
Political drama as a genre often offers a compelling blend of intrigue, power dynamics, and moral ambiguity, and when executed with finesse, it can make for riveting viewing. A production that boasts a taut script, brilliant production values, and stellar performances by the cast is truly something special.
Astutely mounted, the third season of Mahar. is a tale of revenge and justice. It is a mature, operatic drama that packs a powerful punch as it constructs political devolution in Bihar.
For the uninitiated, R. Bharti, aka Mahar. (Huma Qureshi), the reluctant housewife who was made the Chief Minister of Bihar after her husband’s arrest now after his death, finds herself unjustly imprisoned for three years.
The story takes off from where it left off in season two.
While in prison, R. rules the roost while at loggerheads with her rival, the incumbent CM Navin Kumar (Amit Sial). She makes life difficult for him.
This season sees R. pass her intermediate exams, aka Twelfth Standard, make peace with her children, and exonerate herself from the crime she never did.
The taut script penned by Subash Kapoor and his team sets the pace and tone for the entire narrative, tightly weaving the intricate subplots with sharp dialogues and unexpected twists. It keeps you engaged from start to finish by exploring the intricacies of political manoeuvring and delving into the personal motivations and moral dilemmas of its characters. It feels real and contemporary.
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From charismatic Huma Qureshi and convincing Amit Sial at the helm, it is supporting actors like Vineet Kumar as the conniving politician Gauri Shankar Pandey aka Kala Nag, Dibyendu Bhattacharya as the conscientious ex-IAS officer investigating the murder of Bheema Bharti (Sohum Shah), Pramod Pathak as R.’s political advisor aka Chankya, Atul Tiwari as Governor Govardhan Das, K. Kusruti as R.’s confidante Kaveri, and Anuja Sathe as the widow Kirti Singh are all skilled actors who bring their complex and mostly morally ambiguous characters to life in a compelling and nuanced way.
Apart from the performances and songs that pepper the narrative, the brilliant production values bring this tale to life. It makes it feel realistic and cinematic. Attention to detail enhances the authenticity, making it atmospheric in disposition. This includes everything from the set design and cinematography to the costume and sound design. The series visually transports you to virgin locales showcasing rural Bihar, the state’s assembly hall where the legislative members debate, or the backrooms of a fictional government.
Overall, Mahar. 3 is a well-executed, moderately gripping, and thought-provoking study of its characters that ends on a prophecy and a promise of season four.
