First up, I want to congratulate Mrinal Kulkarni. There are such few women directors in Marathi cinema, and Mrinal, in her second film, has taken on the Herculean task of making a period film.
Rama Madhav is a royal love story set against the backdrop of politics, war and the dawn of a new era.
A 12-year-old Rama (Shruti Karlekar) enters the Shaniwarwada as Madhavrao’s wife and discovers a whole new world. The film explores the history of the Peshwas, as a young Rama blossoms into a beautiful woman, and develops a unique relationship with her husband.
The film is rich with interesting characters whose stories we’ve touched upon through history books, breathtaking sets and talented actors. Rama Madhav presents a canvas that tests Mrinal Kulkarni’s skill as a director. But what makes it special is the fact that Ravindra Mankani and Mrinal Kulkarni who essayed Madhavrao and Ramabai respectively in the 1980s TV saga Swami, portray Nanasaheb and Gopikabai in this film.