Cinemaazi celebrates Shivaji Jayanti

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire and one of most important figures in Indian history and public imagination, has always been a popular figure to depict on screen. His character has appeared in over 50 films, mostly in the Marathi language. The earliest known film was Sinhagad (1923) which was based on Hari Narayan Apte's novel and was a big budget venture from Maharashtra Film Company. They followed it up with another acclaimed film in Kalyan Khajina (1924) which was Master Vithal's debut. Even Dadasaheb Phalke made Shivajichi Agryahun Sutaka (1924). The next significant adaptation - V Shantaram's Udaykal (1930) was the most explicitly political one, with its original title Swarajyacha Toran drawing the ire of the British government. Interestingly the lead role was played by V Shantaram himself. Other important appearances were in Saraswati Cinetone's Chhatrapati Shivaji (1934), Sant Tukaram (1936), Netaji Palkar (1939), Thoratanchi Kamala (1940), Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952), Thoratanchi Kamala (1963), Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964), Raja Shivachhatrapati (1974), Bal Shivaji (1981), and many more. Bhalji Pendharkar was one of the most frequent adapters of the story of Shivaji. The recent success of films like Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (2009) are testament to Shivaji's enduring importance. Cinemaazi wishes everyone a happy Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti and hope you have fun watching some of these films!