Director Laxman Utekar on ‘Chhava’: Historical dramas have unique challenges
In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, filmmaker Laxman Utekar spoke about his upcoming period drama film ‘Chhava’. The film stars Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles.
Filmmaker Laxman Utekar’s historical drama Chava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, has been creating a lot of buzz ever since its teaser was released. As fans eagerly await the film’s release, Utekar shared details about the journey behind the making of the film in an exclusive interview with India Today Digital. He stressed that the film respects cultural sensitivities and does not hurt people’s sentiments.
Talking about the film, Laxman said, “Everyone knows about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but no one knows about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He had a lot of courage and was a great warrior, but sadly no one knows about it. During the pandemic, when I read about Sambhaji Maharaj, I realised he is such a big character, and why are we not talking about his life? That’s when I started writing and got the idea of Chhava.”
The director further added that he was attracted to Sambhaji Maharaj’s personality and his characteristics during his 10-year reign.The flame that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had lit was used by Sambhaji Maharaj to set the Mughal empire on fire. (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj lit the flame, and Sambhaji Maharaj used that flame to set the Mughal Empire on fire).”
‘Chhava’ is based on Shivaji Sawant’s book of the same name.When asked if making a period drama is challenging, the director, who has made films like Mimi, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, told, “If your research is thorough, if your pre-production is solid, and as a director you have a deep understanding of the era and the characters, then it becomes quite easy. Without that knowledge, it can be very difficult.”
Directing a period drama comes with its own challenges, especially when the filmmakers are accused of distorting facts by taking creative liberties. Speaking on this, the director shared his thoughts: “The audience is never wrong. If you are portraying a warrior and a queen and you put in a romantic song, people might question it – wondering how these characters, who spent their entire lives fighting for the country, would have found time for romance.”
“This is when fingers start pointing. But if you can truly justify the life of the warrior, the audience will appreciate it. That is what we have achieved with Chava., He concluded
Directed by Laxman Utekar, the shooting of the film will begin in October 2023. Set as a historical drama, the film stars Vicky Kaushal in the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai BhosaleHis wife. The film will release in theatres on December 6, 2024.
