Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Films have announced to make a film on Kashmir’s last Hindu Queen Kota Rani. The 14th-century Kashmiri Queen Kota is known for her extraordinary beauty as well as her efficient administration and military strategy. The film’s co-producer Madhu Mantena expressed surprise that Indians do not know much about the great personality like Kota Rani.
Madhu Mantena said “If Kota Rani is compared to Egypt’s Cleopatra, there is no exaggeration. What is happening in Kashmir today is directly related to Kota Rani. Her life was quite dramatic and probably she was the most influential female ruler in India. It would be a shame if we did not know about her.”
Who was Kota Rani?
She was the Hindu ruler of Lohara dynasty in medieval Kashmir, ruling until 1339. Kota Rani was the daughter of Ramachandra, the commander-in-chief of Suhadeva. Kota Rani was married twice. Firstly to Rinchan who was murdered and then to Udayanadeva who died in 1338. Kota Rani had two sons from both of her husbands. Rinchan’s son was under the charge of Shah Mir and Udayanadeva’s son was taught by Bhatta Bhikshana. Kota Rani became the ruler in her own right and appointed Bhatta Bhikshana as her prime minister.
According to the historian Jonaraja, she committed suicide and offered her intestines to him as a wedding gift. It is not known what happened to her sons.
Reliance Entertainment Group’s CEO Shivashish Sarkar said that the main objective of the film is to make Indian people aware of such a great Indian female ruler. He says, “There are many shades in her character. There is no doubt that she was the greatest female character in our country. But little is known about her.” However, no announcement has been made yet about the film’s star cast and director.
