‘Chhava’ controversy: Why some have objected to film on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

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On Monday, the film’s director Laxman Utekar said the scene would be deleted after meeting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Here is what to know.

What is the ‘Chhava’ controversy about?

Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, a descendant of the king and a former Rajya Sabha MP, objected to the depiction of the king in the song and questioned the cinematic liberties taken by the filmmakers.

On Saturday, Maharashtra’s Minister for Industries & Marathi Language, Uday Samant, said in a post on X, “It is a matter of joy that a Hindi film is being made based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the protector of religion and freedom… Our position is that this film should not be released without first showing it to experts and knowledgeable people.”

Director Laxman Utekar has now said the scene would be deleted. “We thought of Maharaj as a 20-year-old. It was obvious that he had played the Lezim dance. And why not? Lezim is a part of Maratha culture. It is just our traditional dance. But, if anyone is hurt by those dance moves or Lezim dance, we will remove them,” he said.

Notably, Raj Thackeray-led MNS’ film wing has led several violent agitations in the past, demanding screen time for Marathi movies and against employing Pakistani actors in Bollywood. Thackeray himself enjoys an excellent rapport with many top film celebrities and has been instrumental in dissolving earlier stand-offs between Bollywood and the government as well.

In the past too, films related to historical figures have been criticised for showing drama and flair when depicting people revered in that culture. A decade ago, descendants of Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao demanded the removal of two songs from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Bajirao Mastani. The film was eventually released with the songs.

What is Lezim?

In the book Traditions of Indian Folk Dance, the late Indian arts scholar Kapila Vatsyayan wrote that the lezim often featured in marriage processions in districts of the Konkan coast. Such events were accompanied by an “akhada”, which is “a party of persons skilled in performing many feats of physical skill”.

Today, lezim has “become part and parcel of physical education drill in all schools and colleges” in the state, she added. It is a major part of cultural celebrations as well, such as Ganesh Chaturthi.

She wrote, “Lezim, a small mallet, is made of a thin wood with pieces of metal strung together which clash and produce a sonorous sound when swinging. Lezim is as much a rigorous physical exercise, a drill, as a dance: the formations are in twos and fours and sometimes even a circle. The dance is accompanied by a dhol or dhalgi (small dhol). There are no wind or string instruments accompanying it, often there is no song accompaniment either, but of late, sometimes, a song is sung.”

Vigorous movements, such as stepping, squatting, and jumping, form an intrinsic part of the dance. The drum beat usually starts at a slower pace and gradually speeds up, with the dancers performing faster movements in sync with the sound.

Who was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj?

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He came to power following a bloody succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was a contemporary and his plan to extend his empire towards the Deccan often resulted in clashes with the Marathas

While Sambhaji was able to defend many famous forts against Mughal forces for some years, he was captured by them in 1689 and eventually put to death.