Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi 2019

The film opens with the arrival of Manikarnika in the vibrant ghats of Varanasi. She is raised under the watchful eyes of her father, Moropant (Manish Wadhwa), and Bajirao (Suresh Oberoi) in the idyllic surroundings of Bithoor. A spirited young Manu catches the attention of Dixit-Ji (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), the minister of Jhansi, when she displays her formidable prowess by killing a tiger. Impressed by her strength, he proposes a marriage between her and Gangadhar Rao (Jishu Sengupta), the King of the Maratha-ruled kingdom of Jhansi, in the year 1842. This union is celebrated with great fanfare, and among the attendees is the lively JhalkarBai (Ankita Lokhande), who, along with her husband Puran Singh (Vaibhav Tatwawaadi), eagerly observes the new queen. Following the wedding, Manikarnika’s name is changed to Lakshmi Bai.

As the newly married couple spends time together, they forge a deep and unbreakable bond. However, Lakshmi Bai (Kangana Ranaut) is not confined to the conventional female roles of her time; instead, she eagerly engages with the complex political landscape surrounding Jhansi. She is particularly incensed to learn that her husband must show deference to a British officer named Gordon (Edward Sonnenblick), which she staunchly refuses to do, igniting tensions with the British.

The plot thickens when Jhalkari Bai’s pet calf, Nandu, is taken by British officers, leading her into a confrontation that results in severe beatings. Upon hearing of this injustice, Lakshmi Bai boldly approaches the officers, surprising them with her fluent English as she declares their claim over Jhansi’s livestock is invalid without royal consent. After returning Nandu, a bond of friendship blossoms between the two women. Meanwhile, amidst their joyous moments, Lakshmi Bai discovers her pregnancy and learns the ecstatic news of giving birth to a son, Damodar Rao.

However, shadows of betrayal lurk as Sadashiv Rao (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub), Gangadhar’s scheming brother, conspires with the British for a slice of the estate in exchange for surrendering Jhansi. His sinister plans culminate in a tragic incident that results in the poisoning of Damodar Rao, leaving the king incapacitated. In a desperate attempt to secure a successor for the throne, the dying king adopts a local boy, whom Lakshmi Bai instinctively names Damodar as well, much to Sadashiv’s chagrin. Ultimately, Sadashiv is banished when he openly rebels against his future queen.

As fate would have it, following the death of King Gangadhar Rao, the East India Company schemes to invoke the Doctrine of Lapse, presenting a grave threat to Jhansi’s sovereignty since there appears to be no male heir. Defying societal norms of widowhood, Lakshmi Bai courageously steps into her late husband’s role as the reigning monarch, fiercely resisting the urge to abandon her throne. When the British demand her removal from the palace, she gracefully moves into the community, garnering immense support from the villagers, led by none other than Jhalkari Bai, which further incites the ire of the British officers.

The British appoint Sir Hugh Rose (Richard Keep) to quell the situation. Aware of the imminent threat, Lakshmi Bai initiates training sessions for her own army, including women, to prepare for their inevitable clash. Meanwhile, Sadashiv incites a violent mutiny that sees the slaughter of innocent British women and children, further framing Lakshmi Bai as a terrorist in the eyes of the British, prompting Hugh Rose to escalate hostilities against her.

During the siege of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai showcases her courage by charging onto the battlefield, determined to dismantle the British artillery. The fortress walls provide her army with temporary refuge until Sadashiv betrays them, ultimately leading to the collapse of their defenses and the tragic loss of Gaus-Baba (Danny Denzongpa). Even as Jhalkari Bai becomes pregnant, she heroically undertakes the guise of the queen to distract the British, sacrificing herself in a grand explosion that claims many lives, including British soldiers.

With her kingdom in ruins yet her spirit unbroken, Lakshmi Bai retreats to Kalpi to rally her allies, including Tantia Tope (Atul Kulkarni). Together, they seize Gwalior and invigorate the Maratha soldiers to rise up against their oppressors. With a heavy heart, Lakshmi Bai leaves her beloved Damodar Rao in the care of her childhood friend, Kashi (Mishti), as she sets out to confront the British army. Tragically, she faces a harrowing defeat, and in the film’s poignant climax, Rani Lakshmi Bai defiantly confronts Hugh Rose before setting herself ablaze, choosing death over capture by her enemies.