Vicky Kaushal’s period-drama, Chhaava, will explore the life of Sambhaji Maharaj who reportedly battled 140 wars in 9 years and never lost any of them.
Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna’s historical drama, Chhaava, is all set to hit the theatres on February 14. The film is an adaptation of the Marathi novel with the same name. It is written by Shivaji Sawant. While Vicky Kaushal will play the role of Sambhaji in the Laxman Utekar film, Akshaye Khanna will take on the role of Aurangzeb. The film will also star Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, and Diana Penty in important roles.
Laxman Utekar read about Sambhaji Maharaj during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he got inspired to bring his story alive on the big screen. Speaking to India Today, Laxman said, “Everyone knows about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but no one knows about Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He had such great courage and was a great warrior, but sadly no one knows about it. During the pandemic [COVID-19], when I read about Sambhaji Maharaj, I realised he is such a big character, and why are we not talking about his life? That’s when I started writing and the idea of Chhaava came to me.”
Who is Sambhaji Maharaj?
Sambhaji Maharaj was the oldest son of the founder of Maratha kingdom, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The second ruler of the kingdom after his father’s death, he ruled for nine years and gained recognition for his valour and patriotism.
He ruled from 1681 to 1689. His rule was largely shaped by the ongoing wars between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire, Siddi of Janjira, Wadiyars of Mysore, and the Portuguese Empire.
Among the major military campaigns launched by Sambhaji Maharaj was the attack on Burhanpur, an important Mughal city in present-day Madhya Pradesh and a trading centre. He did this to stop Aurangzeb from expanding his footprint in the Deccan.
Multiple battles took place between the two sides from 1682 and 1688. While the Mughals wanted control over forts held by Marathas, they were not successful.
Two years after he came to power, Sambhaji aka Sambhuraje executed about 24 members of influential families after he discovered that certain people were plotting his assassination. By 1685, Mughals had pushed back Sambhaji and had taken over his strongholds. Three years later, they captured him and executed him.
On February 1, 1689, Aurangzeb captured him by deception and harassed him for days before executing him in the ‘most horrible’ manner possible. However, Sambhaji won a place of honour in everyone’s hearts for his incredible bravery in confronting death to defend three of his most prized possessions: Deva, Desh, and Dharma. People of Maharashtra recognise the hero and respect his refusal to succumb to Aurangzeb’s methods, preferring to die over compromising the cause he believed in. Sambhaji was executed on March 11, 1689
Laxman Utekar is known for directing films like Luka Chuppi, Mimi, and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. The film is produced under Dinesh Vijan’s production banner Maddock Films.
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