Right-wing Hindu outfits have demanded a ban on the upcoming Marathi film ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji’ alleging that it distorts historical facts about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The organisations have accused the Marathi feature film premiered at Cannes Film Festival to wrongfully portray the Maratha king as secular.
Film Premiered at Cannes, Faces Backlash
On Saturday, Mumbai police issued a notice to Sakal Hindu Samaj against its WhatsApp posts criticising the upcoming Marathi film ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji’, which was one of the Marathi films officially selected for the renowned Cannes Film Festival 2025. The police warned the organisation of strict action after it threatened public protests accusing the film of spreading false history and “dividing the minds of Hindus.”
Demands for Ban Until Historical Review
On Monday, another right-wing Hindu outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) also demanded a ban on the film alleging that it contains historically inaccurate, baseless and distorted portrayals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, misleading the public and hurting the sentiments of the Maratha king’s followers.
The organisation refuted the film’s claims that 35% of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army were Muslims, 11 of his bodyguards were Muslims and that he built a mosque at Raigad Fort. It alleged that the claims were misleading, fabricated and lacking any credible historical evidence. It claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of Hindavi Swarajya and his portrayal as secular is a deliberate misrepresentation of history.
Warning of Communal Tensions
HJS warned that such distorted depictions can hurt religious sentiments and disturb law and order and even cited precedents of public outrage during the release of films like Padmaavat and Jodhaa Akbar. It demanded the state and central government to ban the film until its historical accuracy is officially verified. The organisation stated that it should be banned on the lines of the film ‘Udaipur Files: Kanhaiyalal Taylor Murder’, which was temporarily banned for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.
“If Muslims had genuine affection for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, then five Muslim emperors would not have plotted to destroy him, nor would Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj have been tortured and killed. Even recently, in Yavat of Pune district, a fanatic vandalised a statue of Shivaji Maharaj, an act that contradicts the film’s narrative,” said Sunil Ghanvat, state coordinator of HJS.
