Vicky Kaushal’s upcoming film ‘Chhaava’ has run afoul of Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Uday Samant, who called for a ban on its release due to what he described as objectionable content.
‘Chhaava’ is based on the life of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna, the period film is slated to hit theatres on February 14, 2024.
Samant has taken exception to a dance sequence in the movie, questioning its historical authenticity and calling for it to be deleted.
“The movie made by Vicky Kaushal shows Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje dancing. The director should cut this part. This movie should be shown to historians and scholars. If they raise objections, we will not let it be released,” he told news agency ANI on Sunday.
While acknowledging the filmmakers’ effort to bring the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to a wider audience, Samant made it clear that historical accuracy must be maintained.
“Such efforts are necessary to make the world understand the history of Chhatrapati. However, many have expressed their opinions that there are some objectionable scenes in this film,” the Minister said in a statement.
Samant called on the filmmakers to consult historians and remove any controversial content before release. He warned that the film’s release would be blocked unless the suggested changes are made.
“Our position is that this film should not be released without first showing it to experts and knowledgeable people. Anything that will harm the honour of the Maharaj will not be tolerated,” he stated.
This isn’t the first time that a film based on a historical figure has run into controversy prior to its release. In 2018, ‘Padmaavat’ faced severe backlash from Rajput groups, particularly the Karni Sena, for allegedly distorting facts about Queen Padmavati. Following violent protests, the Deepika Padukone-starrer was allowed to be released after certain changes were made.