Shoddy research evokes ire of the Scindias
Ranjib Mazumder
Mrinal Kulkarni in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat
So now we know that our soaps are popular even with the royalty. Launched a month ago on Star Plus, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat is keenly watched by the royal family of Gwalior, the Scindias. But this patronage has not boded well for the show. In the show, Mrinal Kulkarni has been addressed as Chhoti Rajmata, a moniker that has displeased the Scindias. Apparently, the Scindia family called the channel and expressed their displeasure. The channel and the producer had no option but to apologise and incorporate the change.
Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat is the story of a poor girl who ends up in a royal family. Mrinal Kulkarni, who plays the queen, is addressed as Rajmata. According to the royal order, a queen can not be addressed as Rajmata unless she is a widow; and Mrinal's character in the show is married.
A source from the production house said, "Our show was launched on January 21 and within a week someone very senior from the Scindia family called the channel heads and registered their complaint. They said that it was wrong to address Mrinal as Rajmata as she is not a widow. The channel was livid with the production house for the poor research. The production house, however, apologised to them and now Mrinal's character will be addressed as Rani Saheba."
Vishal Sharma, co-producer of the show, confirmed the story and said, "Yes, the channel received a call from a senior member of the Scindia family and conveyed that they wanted us to address Mrinal's character differently. According to royal traditions, she can't be referred to as Rajmata as she is not a widow. We have apologised for the mistake and made the required changes."
What excuse can there be for such shoddy research? Sharma said, "I don't know how our creative team skipped such a vital fact while doing their research. In fact, we have spent a lot time researching royal customs and costumes across places like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Every our actors took a lot of time to get into the skin of the characters, getting the nuances of royal etiquettes and their mannerisms just right. I am also going to meet them personally to apologise."
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