Chhava enlightens non-Marathis on Sambhaji Maharaj

Mixed reactions followed highlight the extent of to children's exposure to stories of Maratha empire

Mumbai: The film Chhava is a major hit on the box office. However, another stark reality that has come to light through a series of reactions coming in from potential Indian audiences from across the country have been mind-boggling.

The reactions were totally mixed. On one hand, a Noida based young professional Bhavana Singhi said, “I haven’t watched it yet. Is it probably something about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?”

Singhi’s reaction was an eye opener. Not many knew about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Some just knew that he was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son.

While on the other hand, Urdu speaking Mumbai resident, Saba Shaikh said, “I remember learning about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in school, but back then, it was just a small part of our history lessons. I had no idea about the depth of his story and the incredible bravery he showed. I was truly moved by how the film highlighted values like bravery, sacrifice, and standing up for what’s right, his principles that go beyond any one community or religion. Chhaava not only gave me a deeper understanding of Sambhaji Maharaj’s legacy but also left me with a sense of pride and inspiration.”

Indian born New Zealand resident Carissa Paul said, “Our active exposure in school through History books was limited to just knowing about Shivaji’s conquests but even that was I think very general when compared to say how much more we covered about Mughal empire or even the south’s big empires. And of course the main freedom struggle. I only knew of Sambhaji as Shivaji’s son and nothing much else to be honest.”

Through the film, Marathi audiences got a realistic experience of what they had already heard from their elders. However, for a lot of non-Marathi speaking viewers, it came as a surprisingly neglected part of history.

Viewers do believe that there is a wave of Bollywood films on Maratha history. Speaking to The Perfect Voice, popular actor Uday Tikekar said, “Producers make films to make money or send them to film festivals. Formulae like love triangles, or the genre that defines films like Pushpa, are done and gone. So now what? Producers do a lot of brainstorming on what sells, what’s stale and what can now work and what’s new. They look at it as a commercial project. Maratha history Is an untouched topic. Although Sambhaji Mahraj’s contribution is not just confined to Maharashtra, he was less known across India. It was a risky project. However, fortunately it was a success. We Maharashtrians are happy that Sambhaji was introduced to the non-Marathi population, however, once topics on Maratha history are done and gone, they will shift to something else.”

Some experts pointed out that films like Jodha Akbar is a classic example of undue romanticism of the character of Akbar which was too far from reality. Such films make it difficult for the viewers to take serious cognizance of such movies. Carissa Paul said, “I usually like to make sure that I also find out more about the actual history and not depend on a Bollywood movie to accurately represent all the historic facts. However, having it in mainstream commercial cinema definitely improves the chances of people knowing about people in our history and developing an interest in knowing more.”

Paul highlighted, “Marketing is very important. Popularity of any movie depends on if it has a main stream actor and right kind of promotional strategies.”

Mumbai born viewer Sumit Gupta said, “I knew about Sambhaji Maharaj because it was mentioned in our school history book and our teacher used to explain further details and tell us stories about him. The movie actually gave even more details and gave us a feel of the intensity of the torture bestowed upon Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by the Mughal emperor.”

Gujarathi speaking Chandana Buch said, “Before watching Chhava, I didn't have a personal connection to Maharashtra or its history, having grown up outside the state without Marathi friends. Therefore, I had no reference point to gauge the accuracy of the film's portrayal. However, watching the movie with my Maharashtrian friend added another layer of depth, as he shared his knowledge of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's multilingualism and the brutal circumstances of his death. I was deeply moved by his unwavering resolve in the face of torture. What struck me most was the film's portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Chhatrapati Sambhaji's stance on religion. Contrary to popular misconceptions, they didn't oppose any particular religion, but rather resisted the ruthless and oppressive rule of the Mughals. This nuanced understanding of their legacy was a valuable takeaway for me.”