Maharashtra govt. wants CBFC to re-examine certification for Khalid ka Shivaji, halt release of movie

The Maharashtra government has requested the Union government to re-examine the Marathi movie Khalid ka Shivaji and halt its release, following complaints by right-wing organisations alleging inaccurate portrayal of history. The Congress has criticised the government, calling it a “ridiculous and condemnable attempt to diminish the towering stature of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”. The movie was officially screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

While citing historical texts, Congress leader Sachin Sawant said, “Why can’t Maharaj be Khalid’s hero? Why is the BJP so disturbed if Muslims identify with the values of Shivaji Maharaj? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a Rayatecha Raja —a king of the people — not a ruler of any one community.”

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar said the government would not tolerate the perversion of history. The controversy escalated after protestors raised slogans against the film during a recent State festival.

“The government has taken a serious note of the complaints received about the movie. There is a demand to ban the movie. The CBFC comes under the jurisdiction of the Union government. We want to examine how the movie received Censor Board certification – if the committee had studied the movie properly. We also want to know how the movie was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, and if there is any mischief in it. We are going to probe all of it,” Mr. Shelar said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kiran Kulkarni, Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Department, has written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting seeking to halt the release of the film.

According to the publicly available trailer, the film depicts a schoolboy named Khalid who draws inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Congress targets BJP

“It is absolutely unbecoming of the State government to request the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to halt the release of the film Khalid ka Shivaji, based merely on its trailer — which, notably, is not even particularly objectionable – and without any genuine understanding of the film’s actual content. This move clearly appears to be driven by pressure from right-wing organisations and aligned with BJP’s divisive political ideology. Once again, it becomes evident that the BJP is intent on portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj solely as an icon of Hindutvavad – a narrow, bigoted, and conservative image that is factually incorrect — rather than as a symbol of Manavatavad [Humanism]. This is a ridiculous and condemnable attempt to diminish the towering stature of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and a complete disservice to the progressive, inclusive ideology exemplified by his life and legacy,” Mr. Sawant said.

“If every film is to be examined under the microscope of historical accuracy, then how did films like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story, and several other propaganda-driven movies – most of which carried disclaimers stating they were fictional and bore little resemblance to historical fact – receive clearance over the past 11 years? One of them was even awarded a National Award. As for the film Khalid ka Shivaji, while we may not fully know the filmmaker’s intent, it is a well-documented historical fact that Muslims were an integral part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army. His personal bodyguard was a Muslim,” he added.

Citing historical references about certain dialogues in the film, he said, “Regarding the mosque on Raigad Fort, the historical references are credible and well-documented: In New History of the Marathas – Volume 1 by eminent historian and Padma Bhushan awardee G.S. Sardesai (also known as Riyasatkaar), it is clearly stated on pages 264–265 that Shivaji Maharaj had a mosque constructed for his Muslim soldiers. Similarly, in Raigadchi Jivankatha [The Life Story of Raigad], written by the renowned historian Shantaram Vishnu Awlaskar and published in 1962 by the Maharashtra State Board of Literature and Culture, it is recorded on page seven that a mosque was indeed built on Raigad Fort under Shivaji’s rule. The Board has publicly taken full responsibility for the authenticity of this research. The mosque is also referenced in the writings of Prem Hanvate. Furthermore, in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, written in 1907 by Shivaji’s first biographer Krishnaji Keluskar, it is clearly affirmed that Shivaji Maharaj upheld secular values and ensured that neither Muslim subjects nor their places of worship were ever harmed in his kingdom.

Thus, the historical reference to the mosque is not anecdotal or fringe — it is supported by well-researched, peer-reviewed scholarship, including work backed by the Government of Maharashtra.