Chhaava: Marathan Warrior King

A stirring patriotic Indian movie about the great warrior king Sambhaji Maharaj of the Maratha empire and his war with the Mughal empire after the death of his great father. It’s a grand movie that can only be made in India these days with hundreds of extras. Violent, at times exaggerated but it was entertaining. 

You get a sense of this legend who fought off the Mughals for over 9 years, despite being massively outnumbered. Without giving away too much in the movie, he dies the way he lives. Heroic. Defiant, fierce and with his family and people in his heart. Unconquerable. Undefeated even in captivity. They lived in harsh and brutal times. 

“In this very pain lies the joy of life.”

In one of the more serious scenes he talks with his poet friend and there is great wisdom here: 

“The man who masters the mind, masters life. The one who succumbs to it, won’t survive. 

Those who yield without a fight, bring upon them shame every time. 

Shame on those who fail to dream and strive, for the right to dream is our birthright. 

For the sake of our own, we must act today.”

Wise words. Stirring words. Jai Bhavani!