A recent biopic, Ek thi Rani Aisi Bhi on the Rajmata, who led a simple life, captured the audience’s heart for her remarkably radiant life
Pradeep Sardana
For some time, it has been observed that the audience is taking a big liking for the biopic films. Movies like Dangal, Neerja, M S Dhoni and Sarabjeet are the examples in this class. Movies like Mary Kom, Talwar, The Dirty Picture, Pansinh Tomar and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag have also been given a big welcome. One more name Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi is being added to the list of autobiographical and biopic movies.
The film is based on the life of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia who is known not just as the Queen of Gwalior royal family, but a stalwart leader of the Jana Sangh and Bharatiya Janata party, an excellent MP and affectionate mother. The film is based on Vijaya Raje’s autobiographical book ‘Lokpath to Rajpath’ that the well-known writer Mrudula Sinha wrote 22 years ago. It is well known that Mrudula Sinha is the Governor of Goa today. Rajmata was alive when Prabhat Prkashan published the book in 1995. Since then, eight editions of this book have come out so far.
Producing a movie on Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia’s life was thought of ever since her death in January 2001. A few years later, Sushma Swaraj and Mrudula Sinha decided to make a film on Rajmata. Even the Rajmata Vijaya Raje Memorial Trust was formed for this through which the film production was started. Popular actress and BJP MP Hema Malini was chosen for the role of the Rajmata while well-known actor and BJP MP Vinod Khanna was selected for the role of Rajmata’s husband King Jivajirao Scindia. There was even a grand muhurat of the movie in Mumbai on October 14, 2008. But things took so many turns that it took 8 years to complete the film. The film was passed by the Censor Board in December 2016 after which it was premiered in the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi on this April 18. Prior to the screening, Royal to Public Life, the English translation of the book ‘Lokpath to Rajpath’ was also released.
Some members of the Scindia family besides former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Goa Governor Mrudula Sinha, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Madhya Pradesh Minister Yashodhara Raje, MP Dushyant Singh, MP Maya Singh were present in the auditorium on the occasion.
Besides, lead actors of the movie like Hema Malini and Sachin Khedekar as also many dignitaries were present on the occasion. Gul Bahar Singh had directed the movie. It was released in Mumbai a few days ago in the presence of actor Amitabh Bachchan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The film hit the theaters across the country on April 21.
The Movie is not just a story. It glimpses through the personal life of Rajmata along with the initial days of 1947 to Emergency in 1975. The movie starts with the period in 1947 when the country had won independence and the Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbai Patel was trying to merge all Princely States. Patel wanted that if a large Princely State like Gwalior merged first into Bharat, it would set a precedent for other kings and States. Therefore, Patel invites Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia for a meeting in Delhi.
While Jivaji Rao respects his wife Vijaya Raje too much, he also takes good care of his people’s well-being. In view of the circumstances, when Maharaja sets out for Delhi, the Queen also accompanies him though Maharaja opines that the decisions should be taken after consulting the subjects. However, they are also aware that the government will not allow such a referendum, hence one day they merge their state in the country with a heavy heart.
We wanted to make a film which is not just about Vijaya Raje ji but a story of any woman. That is why we didn’t dipict much of her political career —Gulbahar Singh, Director
Elsewhere, the Congress was involved in constantly increasing its dominance in the Lok Sabha elections. Still, the relation between the king and the subjects is so sweet in states like Gwalior that the Congress could not win there.
Therefore, Vijaya Raje suddenly arrives at Delhi one day to meet Pandit Nehru for allaying some misunderstandings. The Prime Minister offers her to enter the politics and contest Lok Sabha election from Guna constituency. Here comes a new twist in the queen’s life. She comes on peoples path from the royal one. Her husband dies in Mumbai nearly four years after she becomes MP, at the age of just 45 years. The Queen is badly broken by Maharaja’s death, so much so that she even does not want to contest the next election. However, gradually the circumstances make her stronger. Then Vijaya Raje joins Jana Sangh after seeing the policies and atrocities of Congress. However, many prominent opposition leaders are imprisoned in June 1975 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposes emergency in the country. Rajmata first tries to evade the arrest, but later surrenders before the police. She is placed in Tihar jail in Delhi with Queen of Jaipur Gayatri Devi.
Meanwhile, Vijaya Raje is estranged from her son Madhavrao. The cause behind this separation is Madhavrao’s quitting her party to join the Congress. The movie sheds light on the personality and thinking of Rajmata. It also depicts the pain and suffering when independent Bharat’s government did not hesitate in heavily torturing the common people as also the royals who differed. With trampling of the student organisations raising their voices against the injustice, the movie even exposes many dark chapters by showing the incidents of forced sterilisation of unmarried people during emergency. Interestingly, the nowhere names the political parties like Congress, Jan Sangh, BJP etc. but the events are enmeshed in such a fashion that those with even a little understanding of politics will understand what and from is being spoken of. While characters like Pt Nehru, Sardar Patel, G B Pant have been shown in the movie, references have been made to leaders like Indira Gandhi, Nanaji Deshmukh and Dr Rajendra Prasad.
Yes, there are some discrepancies in the film owing to the delay in its making. Like the character of Sardar Angre, an important character that walks with Maharaj and Queen, disappears long before the end of the film. Besides, while incidents up to Emergency have been given proper footage, the 25 years of Queen’s life thereafter have been rolled in a few minutes.
Clearly, every movie has a time limit and not everything can be shown in this 125-minute movie. Though, overall it is a good movie on Queen’s life. Hema Malini has shaped not only her acting but her body language also like Rajmata. He appears perfect in role of Vijaya Raje. Vinod Khanna has also done well in the role of king. Sachin Khedekar as Sardar Angre, Konica Dang as Rani Gayatri Devi and Gargi Nandi as Satya have donejustice to the roles. Gul Bahar Singh has done a good job of direction. The music goes well with the story. Amrita Fadnavis and Anandita have sung the songs in their magical voices. The majestic grandeur comes to fore in the film.
