Isn’t history strange? Sometimes it’s crystal clear and sometime it’s just a foggy mess of contradictory accounts and a good dose of exaggeration. Chhaava, a new Bollywood historical epic movie, goes deep into the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a king whose legacy is mostly in the shadow of his much better-known father, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Was he a footnote to history or a king who defied the mighty Mughal Empire? And most importantly how much of the film is fact and how much is Bollywood-ised? Know all about Chhaava true story, its cast, trailer, budget, and more.
History isn’t only about battles and struggles for thrones; it is about the human drama, folly and intrigues that can put the finest soap operas to shame. The best screenwriters know it. The period in which Sambhaji lived was replete with betrayals, fickle loyalties, and war strategies enough to make survival an art. Chhaava movie, starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, attempts to recreate his entire odyssey from rising to power to being captured and executed by Aurangzeb.
Also read | What happens to Sambhaji Maharaj? Read our ending explained of Chhaava.
Chhaava movie: Exploring the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
Well, yes and no. It features characters that really existed and events that really happened, but it takes certain liberties with the truth. The movie is actually an adaptation of the Marathi language novel by Shivaji Sawant of the same name. So we can expect a fair amount of historical authenticity — at least as much as Hindi cinema allows. But let’s be honest, no Bollywood historical epic is complete without slow-motion battle sequences and rousing monologues.
So what’s the real story behind the Chhaava movie?
Sambhaji Maharaj was born on 14 May 1657. Like all kings in medieval India, he was trained from an early age to become a warrior. His father, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, saw to his military training, as well as his understanding of state administration. At the age of nine, he was sent to live with Raja Jai Singh I of Amber (now part of Jaipur) as part of an agreement with the Mughals (he was a political hostage).
The Maratha throne was embroiled in conflict after the demise of Shivaji in the year 1680. Sambhaji’s stepmother Soyarabai planned to place Rajaram on the throne. However, Sambhaji silenced all opponents and as part of an establishment as a legitimate ruler, seized Raigad Fort. Early in his rule, there were internal dissensions as Sambhaji was consolidating his position and he dealt pretty harshly with all who were deemed conspirators in his court.
The war against the Mughals
Since the very beginning of his reign, Sambhaji was attacked relentlessly by the Mughal Empire. Unlike his father, who had relied on a clever mix of diplomacy and military tactics, Sambhaji was aggressive, running raids into the Mughal territories. One of his greatest early victories was the plunder of Burhanpur in 1681, an important Mughal stronghold. This daring act showed that the Marathas would not surrender meekly to the empire of Aurangzeb.
Capture and execution
In 1687, the Marathas faced a significant setback by losing their best commander, Hambirrao Mohite to the Battle of Wai. This made their military efforts significantly weak and desertions followed. Sambhaji in February 1689 was captured with twenty-five of his officials by the Mughal troops led by Muqarrab Khan in an exchange at Sangameshwar. His capture was made possible through the betrayal of Maratha officials who revealed his location to the enemy.
Sambhaji and his close aide, Kavi Kalash, were taken to the fort of Bahadurgad at Pedgaon in present-day Ahmednagar district. There, Aurangzeb subjected them to public humiliation, dressing them in clownish attire and parading them before Mughal soldiers. What followed was a brutal interrogation. According to Mughal sources, Sambhaji was asked to surrender Maratha forts and treasures and reveal the names of Mughal collaborators. He allegedly insulted both Aurangzeb and the Islamic Prophet Muhammad during the exchange, sealing his fate.
Accounts by the Marathas tell a different tale: Sambhaji was offered the choice of conversion to Islam in exchange for a life spared. He put his foot down, apparently calling down that he would accept Islam if Aurangzeb offered to marry his daughter to him. This act of defiance won him the title Dharmaveer (Protector of Dharma). Chhaava, the historical film, appears to be focusing on that part of Sambhaji’s story.
Sambhaji was cruelly executed by Aurangzeb. According to sources, his eyes were gouged out and he was finally beheaded at Tulapur on the banks of the Bhima River near Pune. It was a brutal end to a great king.
Who is in the cast of Chhaava?
The cast ofChhaavaincludes Vicky Kaushal,Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, Vineet Kumar Singh, Diana Penty, and others.
What is the release date of the Chhaava movie?
The release date of the Chhaava movie, based on the Marathi novel called Chava, is 14 February.
Is there a trailer for the Chhaava movie?
Indeed, here is the trailer for the Chhaava movie:
What is the budget of Chhaava movie?
The budget of the Chhaava movie is not known at this point.
(Hero and Featured Images: Courtesy of IMDb)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
