A Movie, History & Bliss

Last week during my year end vacation, when my wife told to go for a hindi movie - my reaction was same as before ‘Ney!’; She is a keen watcher of all movies let alone new hindi movies. She was determined to go irrespective of my inclination. I, with the very intention of making her happy, decided to go with her. She mentioned that it was a movie based on Indian history - and that was my only interest and expectation at that time.

I was not a great lover of indian movie - a rationale built over a period of time. My expectations were not that great, but if the movie - as a creative media - could not satisfy the basic function of a good storytelling, acting and a screenplay ponders the ‘what if’, I’d treat that as a waste of time. In my opinion, Indian movies in spite of having a great viewership and a great fan following, consistently performing well under the average. However there were some movies that came out of the blue and nowhere blew my expectations. Couple of such film were Dil Chatha hai and Kahani. These outliers and were not strong enough to change my opinion that the indian movies as a package -a colossal waste of time.

My apprehension on this movie immediately changed as the colorful mastery of the director and the passionate cast and the gripping story started filling the space around me. As it started sinking in, I felt that I lived the true Maratha life, witnessed the mogul kings and the harmony of hindu and muslim culture prevailed during those days. I felt like walking through the fortress of  Shanivar Wada and the elegant and charming men and women of 18th century. When the movie ended, I could feel the pain in my heart - that a reflection of a good movie. Kudos to the director and the entire team who created and presented Bajiao Mastani.

When we are walking out of the cinema hall, my wife looked at me and asked, as if I liked the movie.

I nodded my head - with a strong emotions in my head, a sign of journey through a good content and a splendid narrative.

As I was walking back, I was also a bit ashamed of not knowing parts of the indian history - filled with inspirational stories, powerful characters and unbelievable values the people possessed and the harmony in spite of major conflicts within. I started to do my research to find out what part of the movie was fiction and what was the real and recorded history. To my surprise, it was 99% true and 1% would have been the dramatization and the storytelling fillers. I felt sad that history in our vast country was recorded in local languages and remembered and recognized only regionally. All I knew from the great Maratha empire was Chattrapati Shivaji and his son Samabaji; I wish these types of movies many be one such creative media to get the history to the people.

Shivaji was one of the most prominent and remembered of Maratha kings, however the pinnacle of the mart empire came only four generations later. The history then had powerful players such as moguls and new entrants such as British India company, Portuguese and Afghan army from Peshawar. I was surprised to know that Maratha empire in its zenith covered more than 2.8 million km² - to give a comparison, the current day India according to the Word Bank is 2.97 million km²

After Shivaji, Sambaji and his half-brother Rajaram succeeded the throne, but could not make a great impact as a ruler. The Maratha women had also had their share when Trabai took over the throne in her son's name and ruled for seven years.When Shahu, the son of Sambaji, took over the control of the Maratha empire, things started changing. Shahu, who was helped by the Peshwa’s (equivalent of a prime minister or chief minister) - recruited some of the most talented people who took the empire to the new heights - one of them was Baji Rao Bhatt.

He was the main character of this movie. He had a great tenure as a military general, his virtues could easily surpass even Alexander the great. In approximately 20 years as the Peshwa, he waged close to 40 major battles and won each and every one of them. He was extremely talented fighter as well as a great military strategist, who sharpened the guerilla warfare which Shivaji himself started against Moguls. The irony was that he as an individual outcasted and down played by his own family & friends for a his affection, relationship and desire to give his second wife, a half muslim - equal rights and social status.

The story of this movie is based on a novel Rau by N.S Inamdar, a famous Maratha novelist - which brought out the human side of this great warrior Baji Rao. Baji Rao born in a traditional Brahmin family raised by his widow mother Radhabai became one of the most trusted generals of Chattrapati Shahu had a great family and adorable wife and son. The fate in his military campaign led him to help a Rajput Maharaja Chhatrasal and got attracted to his daughter (born to a Muslim mother- and raised as Muslim) Mastani. His affection to her and his openness of his relationship, his unabated love to his wife and his son, his misunderstanding with his own mother and brothers and struggling to cope up in the middle of his military duties was the central idea of Inamdar's novel and this movie.

We have to give credit to these historians and novelists - where they piece the information based on facts and evidences with a gripping narrative. Many a times, the truth may not correlate with our own belief and our understanding based on our past sources of knowledge - that should not shy us away from listening and open to the new views and contents. In that context - this movie and the creators had done the right justice to the history and the characters they had depicted. Recognizing and remembering our past in the right way is the best thing we can do to yourself and the generations to follow.

I’m sure this will be a movie which I’ll be adding to my list of all time favorites. I'm sure you will not be disappointed as well.