The Body as Offering to the Nation

MUMBAI CINEMA AND history have never been great friends. When it is a choice between facts and pop patriotism, we know which way Mumbai filmmakers will go, especially on the touchy topic of Mughals. Having not demonised Aurangzeb enough, they have highlighted Shivaji’s son Sambhaji as warrior extraor­dinaire, based partly on a work of fiction by Shivaji Sawant. Vicky Kaushal grows a beard, bares his chest, kills hundreds of people with his bare hands, and growls into the camera, all of which he does with determination and passion, playing Sambhaji. Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb knits, gives orders while half asleep, and demands Sambhaji convert to Islam. The last section of the movie must be watched with care— unimaginable torture is visited upon the valourous Sambhaji. Sambhaji does not give up his dream of Swaraj, which cannot be extinguished. Here Kaushal’s body, all buffed up and bloodied and yet unbowed, is the most potent site of the contest between good and evil, Hinduism and Islam, independence and subservience. Rashmika Mandanna has established her position as Biwi #I and here too she is the brave maharani who is Parvati to Kaushal’s Shiva, Radha to his Krishna…you get the picture.

ChhaavacinemaLaxman Utekarmovie reviewRashmika MandannaVicky Kaushal