Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Chhaava’ continues to scale new heights financially, days after having become the highest-grossing project in the careers of both the lead actor and director. According to the latest reports, the box office collection of the historical drama has crossed Rs 459.5 crore nett in India and Rs 608.65 crore globally.
However, the movie based on the life and death of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has also reached the Maharashtra assembly. According to the latest reports, the Laxman Utekar-directorial has resulted in the state government led by Devendra Fadnavis deciding to convert Sangameshwar's Sardesai Wada into a memorial to honour the second Maratha King.
What happened in Sangameshwar?
During the Deccan Wars between the Martha and Mughal empires, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was captured by his rivals at Sangameshwar. Sambhaji was in the company of a small party of his soldiers when ambushed by a larger Mughal army led by Muqarrab Khan due to betrayal from his court. Although the Marathas fought back the first wave, allowing their King and his minister Kavi Kalash to escape unhurt, they were eventually caught from a Sangameshwar temple by Muqarrab Khan's forces and imprisoned at Sardesai Wada before being presented before Aurangzeb at Bahadurgad.
The duo were tortured and killed over time by the Mughals who even dismembered their bodies. However, the martyrdom resulted in further solidification of the Marathas who stepped up the resistance against Aurangzeb and took back many forts and regions from the emperor.
Sambhaji Maharaj Memorial Sangameshwar
Marathi media reports claim that the public was flowing to Sardesai Wada in Sangameshwar after watching ‘Chhaava.’ However, they were not impressed by its dilapidated condition and this was brought to the attention of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday by Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) faction's Amol Mitkari.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in response, told the Council that the state government will take the initiative to acquire this Wada and build a memorial for Sambhaji Maharaj. "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is a symbol of bravery. He is a hero and a defender of the state. A suitable memorial will be built at Sardesai Wada," Lok Satta quoted CM Fadnavis as saying.
"Our State Govt will initiate to acquire Sardesai Wada and build a memorial of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj there!," the chief minister later said on X.
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Minister for Mining of Maharashtra Shambhuraj Desai later added that a government committee will inspect Sardesai Wada and will explore the possibilities of acquiring land for the construction of a large memorial. Locals will be approached with land acquisition offers and in case of hurdles, the District Collector will be asked to take up the matter, he reportedly said.