Rashmika’s film song scene removed: sudden decision amid strong opposition

The Hindi film “Chhaava” is inspired by the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the eldest son of the Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji. Vicky Kaushal plays the lead role, with Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead. The film also features Akshay Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, and Divya Dutta among others. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the movie has music composed by A.R. Rahman and is set to release on February 14th.

Recently, the film’s trailer showcased a scene where Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna dance while playing an instrument associated with Maharashtra’s traditional folk dance, “Lezim.” This sparked criticism, with demands to ban the film. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s descendant, Sambhaji Raje, expressed strong disapproval, stating that portraying the king as dancing is incorrect, though showing the Lezim instrument is acceptable. He emphasized that creative liberties in films must have boundaries.

Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant suggested that the film should first be reviewed by historians before its release to ensure it doesn’t harm the Maharaj’s dignity. Following the backlash, film director Laxman Utekar met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray and decided to remove the controversial dance scene, stating that Lezim is not greater than Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.