By Aditya Menon
From people crying outside cinema halls to those chanting slogans inside, the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the film Chhaava (meaning Lion’s Cub) has reportedly evoked an emotional response from sections of the audience. In Gujarat, a man was even arrested for vandalising the screen in an attempt to attack Emperor Aurangzeb, the main antagonist in the film, played by Akshaye Khanna.
Then in Delhi, Hindutva organisations reportedly defaced roads named after Mughal emperors after watching the movie.
It is a bit odd to see Chhatrapati Sambhaji being glorified by Hindutva activists. No doubt, ‘Mughal atrocities’ are a common theme in both Sambhaji’s story and the larger Hindutva narrative.
However, on Sambhaji specifically, prominent Hindutva ideologues like VD Savarkar and MS Golwalkar had deeply critical view.
nd of political narrative around it is highly risky.
This story was originally published in thequint.com. Read the full story here.
