On February 20, the Shirke family officially served a legal notice to director Laxman Utekar. They have demanded changes in the film’s storyline to ensure that history is not misrepresented.
The historical drama Chhaava is facing controversy as the descendants of Maratha warriors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke have raised objections over their portrayal in the film. The Shirke family has alleged that Chhaava has shown their ancestors in a negative way and has threatened legal action.
They have announced plans to file a Rs 100 crore defamation case against the filmmakers. In response, director Laxman Utekar has issued an apology and clarified his position on how historical figures have been depicted in the film.
What Are the Allegations Against Chhaava?
The Shirke family’s objections are based on how Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke are shown in Chhaava. According to the movie, they betrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and supported Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Shirke family has strongly disagreed with this portrayal and said that it wrongly defames their ancestors.
On February 20, the family officially served a legal notice to director Laxman Utekar. They have demanded changes in the film’s storyline to ensure that history is not misrepresented.
After receiving the legal notice, Utekar personally reached out to Bhushan Shirke, one of the descendants, to discuss the concerns. According to a report by local news portal Pudhari, Utekar apologized and assured that efforts were made to avoid directly associating the characters with the Shirke family.
He clarified, “We have only mentioned the names of Ganoji and Kanhoji in Chhaava, without referring to their surname. We’ve also made sure to not disclose the village they belonged to. Our intention was not to hurt the sentiments of the Shirke family. I sincerely apologise if Chhaava caused any discomfort.”
Despite the apology, the Shirke family is still firm in their demand for corrections in the film. They have warned of state-wide protests if the movie is not changed to reflect what they believe is the accurate historical representation. Their legal notice asks the filmmakers to remove or modify any scenes that could misrepresent their ancestors or damage their legacy.
While the controversy grows, the movie is still attracting audiences. Chhaava features Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai Bhosale, Vineet Kumar Singh as Kavi Kalash, and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb. Whether the filmmakers will make the demanded changes remains to be seen, but the dispute has certainly added to the film’s publicity.
