Mumbai – The upcoming Marathi film ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji’ has come under sharp criticism from the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, which has alleged that the film portrays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a historically inaccurate and distorted manner. The organization has demanded that both the State and Central Governments immediately ban the film, citing hurt religious sentiments and a threat to public harmony.
According to the Samiti, the film makes baseless claims such as:
- 35% of Shivaji Maharaj’s army comprised Muslims
- 11 of his bodyguards were Muslim
- A mosque was constructed by him at Raigad
Calling these assertions factually incorrect and misleading, the Samiti emphasized that no historical records or credible sources validate such claims. They argue that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Hindavi Swarajya, was a fierce protector of dharma and a symbol of indigenous pride.
Quoting from one of Shivaji’s letters to his stepbrother Vyankoji, where he stated, “How can there be victory if Turks (Muslims) are enlisted in the army?”, the Samiti condemned the alleged deliberate attempt to secularize Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, stating it is a manipulation of history.
The Samiti further highlighted that if the Muslim community truly revered Shivaji Maharaj, historical events such as the conspiracies by five Muslim rulers to eliminate him and the brutal killing of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj would not have occurred. They also cited a recent incident in Yavat, Pune, where a man named Syed allegedly vandalized a statue of Shivaji Maharaj, questioning the narrative portrayed in the film.
Referring to Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution and Section 295(A) of the IPC, the Samiti stated that such distorted depictions can hurt religious sentiments and disrupt law and order. Past controversies surrounding films like Padmaavat and Jodhaa Akbar were also invoked as examples of public outrage due to misrepresentation of history.
Until the historical claims made in ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji’ are thoroughly verified by credible historians, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has demanded a temporary ban on its release.
