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Chhaava Director Meets Raj Thackeray Amidst Controversy Surrounding His Film
Updated on: 27 January, 2025 04:36 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Still from Chhaava Trailer
Laxman Utekar, the director of the upcoming historical epic Chhaava, recently met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray amidst controversy surrounding a scene in the film. The meeting comes in the wake of objections raised by Maharashtra minister Uday Samant regarding a sequence in which Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, portrayed by Vicky Kaushal, is shown performing a lezim dance.
The controversy erupted after Uday Samant publicly expressed disappointment with the portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj, calling the lezim dance scene inappropriate for the Maratha king’s stature. “If they raise objections, we will not let it be released,” said Utekar, responding to concerns about historical inaccuracies.
In a statement, the director confirmed that he had consulted with Raj Thackeray and decided to remove the contentious scenes. “I have met Raj Thackeray. He is an avid reader and studious person. So, I have taken some suggestions and guidance from him. And I can say his words are very helpful to me. After meeting him, I have decided to delete those scenes where we have shown Sambhaji Maharaj was doing lezim dance.”
Also Read: Makers of Chhaava Release First Look of Akshaye Khanna as Emperor Aurangzeb
Utekar emphasised the importance of maintaining authenticity in portraying the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was a courageous 20-year-old warrior. He explained that the film draws inspiration from Shivaji Sawant’s celebrated novel Chhava.
The director also revealed plans for a special premiere on January 29, which will include historians and experts to ensure the film accurately depicts historical events. “Having historians view the film before release is crucial,” Utekar stated, highlighting his commitment to preserving the integrity of Sambhaji Maharaj’s story.
Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and former Rajya Sabha MP, has also weighed in on the matter. He expressed his desire to watch the film prior to its release to address any inaccuracies. “I also offered to connect them with historians to address inaccuracies to ensure this significant story is presented authentically to audiences worldwide,” he said.
With these revisions, Chhaava, slated for release on February 14, 2025, is set to deliver an authentic and respectful portrayal of the Maratha warrior’s legacy, aiming to resonate with audiences across the globe.
Also Read: Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava Postponed to February 2025 to Avoid Clash With Pushpa 2
Objections and Immediate Action
The controversy erupted after Uday Samant publicly expressed disappointment with the portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj, calling the lezim dance scene inappropriate for the Maratha king’s stature. “If they raise objections, we will not let it be released,” said Utekar, responding to concerns about historical inaccuracies.In a statement, the director confirmed that he had consulted with Raj Thackeray and decided to remove the contentious scenes. “I have met Raj Thackeray. He is an avid reader and studious person. So, I have taken some suggestions and guidance from him. And I can say his words are very helpful to me. After meeting him, I have decided to delete those scenes where we have shown Sambhaji Maharaj was doing lezim dance.”
Also Read: Makers of Chhaava Release First Look of Akshaye Khanna as Emperor Aurangzeb
Utekar emphasised the importance of maintaining authenticity in portraying the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was a courageous 20-year-old warrior. He explained that the film draws inspiration from Shivaji Sawant’s celebrated novel Chhava.
The director also revealed plans for a special premiere on January 29, which will include historians and experts to ensure the film accurately depicts historical events. “Having historians view the film before release is crucial,” Utekar stated, highlighting his commitment to preserving the integrity of Sambhaji Maharaj’s story.
Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and former Rajya Sabha MP, has also weighed in on the matter. He expressed his desire to watch the film prior to its release to address any inaccuracies. “I also offered to connect them with historians to address inaccuracies to ensure this significant story is presented authentically to audiences worldwide,” he said.
Assurances to Fans
In addition to removing the lezim dance sequence featuring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, Utekar reassured fans that Chhaava will focus on the grandeur and heroism of Sambhaji Maharaj. “Lezim dance is not a big deal. Sambhaji Maharaj is very much bigger than that Lezim dance. So we are going to remove those scenes from the film,” he affirmed.With these revisions, Chhaava, slated for release on February 14, 2025, is set to deliver an authentic and respectful portrayal of the Maratha warrior’s legacy, aiming to resonate with audiences across the globe.
Also Read: Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava Postponed to February 2025 to Avoid Clash With Pushpa 2
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