The Great Maratha

The Great Maratha is an Indian historical drama television series directed by Sanjay Khan and produced by Numero Uno International Limited.^[1][2] The drama aired on DD National. The series is based on the life of Mahadaji Shinde. The show comprised 47 episodes.^[3] The music was composed by Mohammed Zahur Khayyam.

The Great Maratha
Genre	Historical drama
Written by	Sanjay Khan Mohafiz Hyder Reoti Saran Sharma Manoher D. Malgonkar
Directed by	Sanjay Khan
Creative director	S.M.Sadiq
Starring	Shahbaz Khan Parikshit Sahni Farida Jalal Tom Alter Irrfan Khan Mrinal Kulkarni Kartika Rane Mukesh Khanna
Composer	Mohammed Zahur Khayyam
Country of origin	India
Original language	Hindi
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	47
Production
Executive producer	S. Mirza Khan
Producer	Sanjay Khan
Production location	Samod
Cinematography	Tony Rode
Editors	Sushil Deshpande Zahir Allauddin
Production company	Numero Uno International Limited
Original release
Network	DD National
Release	1 February (1994-02-01) – 20 December 1994 (1994-12-20)

Plot

The series starts with the events of 1759 in Delhi, during the declining Mughal empire under emperor Shah Alam II. Weakness of the Mughal empire leads to the invasion of Ahmad Shah Durrani and his army faces the Maratha army on 14 January 1761. The cataclysmic defeat of the Marathas in this Third Battle of Panipat lead to the death of 50000 Marathas and many more. Witnessing this defeat, the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao dies of mental depression. Then the show follows the life of Mahadji Shinde who was gravely wounded in the battle. But soon Maratha Empire, with his help, recovered Maratha power in North India, restoring Mughal emperor's moral authority as Mughal empire came under Maratha protection. He was awarded the title of grand visier by the Mughal emperor. There is a romance between Mahadji and princess Jumna, blossoming into marriage. Mahadji and Indore's queen Ahilya Bai Holkar develop attraction and have a sublime relationship where they help each other. The British are kept in check due to his efforts.The series ends with a fictional account of Mahadji suddenly falling ill, possibly by poisoning, while eating food with other Maratha officers in Pune, and he dies soon.^[1]

Cast

• Prince Singh as Malhar Rao Holkar
• Arun Mathur as Maharaja Suraj Mal Jats
• Bal Dhuri as Balaji Baji Rao, Nana saheb peshwa
• Shahbaz Khan as Mahadji Scindia
• Farida Jalal as Chimna Bai
• Kartika Rane as Yamunabai
• Deepraj Rana as Jankoji Rao Scindia
• Pankaj Dheer as Sadashivrao Bhau
• Sanjay Swaraj as Vishwasrao
• Mangal Dhillon as Dattaji Rao Scindia
• Firoz Ali as Tukoji Rao Scindia
• Mukesh Khanna as Ibrahim Khan Gardi
• Rajesh Joshi as Vithal Shivdev Vinchurkar
• Gaazi Shah as Rana Khan
• Shama Deshpande as Gopikabai
• Rahul Awasthee as Madhavrao I
• Madhura Deo as Ramabai Peshwa
• Rinku Dhawan as Gangabai Sathe
• Hariom Parashar as Nana Phadnavis
• Parikshat Sahni as Malhar Rao Holkar
• Mrinal Kulkarni as Ahilyabai Holkar
• Seema Kelkar/Anju Mahendru as Harku Bai Sahib Holkar
• Sanjay Mehendirata as Tukoji Rao Holkar
• Bhushan Jeevan as Raghunath Rao
• Utkarsha Naik as Anandibai
• Rishabh Shukla as Shah Alam II
• Jitendra Trehan as Imad-ul-Mulk
• Irrfan Khan as Najib ad-Dawlah also Ghulam Kadir
• Bob Christo as Ahmed Shah Abdali
• Maya Alagh as Begum Sadh-ruh-Nissa of Awadh
• Benjamin Gilani as Nawab Shuja-Ud-Daula
• Faqir Nabi as Barkhurdar Khan
• Tom Alter as Robert Clive
• Noshirwan Jehangir as Warren Hastings
• Arun Bali as Mansoor Shah Baba / Alamgir II
• Sunil Nagar as Benoit De Boigne