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The Shirke family has condemned the depiction of Ganoji and Kanhoji – Maratha warriors—betraying Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in ‘Chhaava’. Shirkes say such depiction maligns their ancestors
Ganoji Shirke was the brother-in-law of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He was the brother of Sambhaji’s wife Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale.
Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Chhaava’, which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has garnered praises from the audience and critics, and is going full throttle at the box office. Despite the India-Pakistan match, the film on its second Sunday collected Rs 40 crore. The film’s total box office collection stands at Rs 345.25 crore.
However, the film, directed by Laxman Utekar, has got mired in controversy for the portrayal of Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke, whose descendants have reportedly raised objections over the depiction of the Maratha warriors betraying Sambhaji by aligning with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Let us understand the entire controversy, the allegations, who Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke were and their relationship with Sambhaji.
Who Were Ganoji And Kanhoji Shirke?
The Shirkes have a 750-year history, in which they ruled parts of Pune, Goa, Mumbai and the Konkan, among others. The chief of the clan was Pilaji Raje Shirke and his children, Ganoji and Maharani Yesubai Bhosale.
Many small rulers had come together under one flag to fight for independence under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Shirkes were among them. Incidentally, the Raigad fort was with the Shirke family for 350 years.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje aka Ganoji Shirke was the brother-in-law of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He was the brother of Sambhaji’s wife Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale.
Yesubai married Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in 1664, saw her husband’s execution and her own 13-year imprisonment. She held the Maratha empire together with her administrative skills, political acumen and bravery.
Ganoji was the husband of Rajkunwarbai Saheb, daughter of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. There was an exchange of property between the Bhosale and Shirke families.
Did Ganoji Shirke Betray Sambhaji?
Historian Indrajit Sawant has thrown light on some facts regarding whether Ganoji Shirke committed treason. He has first explained the relationship between the Bhosale and Shirke families.
After the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he set out for the conquest of south. At that time, he understood that it was not safe to keep Sambhaji Maharaj at Raigad. There were differences between Annaji Datto and Sambhaji Maharaj in the Pradhan Mandal. Shivaji Maharaj felt that he could be threatened, as per historians.
Therefore, before going to the south, the Maharaj had kept Sambhaji in Shrungarpur, which was his in-laws’ house (Shirke residence).
When Shivaji Maharaj passed away, Annaji Datto and Moropant Pingale were the main leaders against Sambhaji. A conspiracy was also hatched against him. But it failed, according to historians. After that, Sambhaji himself did not go to Raigad. Before that, he had sent Shirke, i.e. Pilajirao Shirke, to Raigad, Sawant has said in his interview, as mentioned by NDTV.
Therefore, their relationship was very different. It was a relationship of trust.
The Relationship Between Shirkes And Sambhaji
Many Shirkes were behind Sambhaji in his fight for ‘Swaraj’. There is a mention of him in the Shakavali of 1688. It says that Shirke became angry with Kavi Kalash – a close friend of Sambhaji — and became alienated. During a dispute between Kavi Kalash and Shirke, Sambhaji mediated. But later Shirke attacked Kavi Kalash. At that time, however, Sambhaji stood by Kavi Kalash. Shirke was defeated in that battle, said Sawant.
When Sheikh Nizam Mukarrab Khan captured Sambhaji Maharaj at Sangameshwar, it has been shown in the film that Ganoji Shirke and his brother Kanhoji Shirke were with Khan. Moreover, it is also shown that the Shirkes were the ones who led the way from Kolhapur to Sangameshwar at that time. Later, a raid is carried out at Sangameshwar. The film also shows the Shirke brothers tell Khan how to capture Sambhaji. But historian Sawant has claimed that not a single line of evidence is available for this.
The descendants of Shirke family have condemned this depiction, claiming it distorts history and maligns their ancestors. Consequently, they have threatened a defamation lawsuit of Rs 100 crore against the makers of ‘Chhaava’.
How Has The Shirke Family Reacted
Laxmikant Raje Shirke has called ‘Chhaava’s representation of Ganoji and Kanhoji a blatant “misinterpretation of historical facts.” He said such creative liberties should not be taken with historical figures, primarily when they affect the descendants of those individuals.
According to Deepak Raje Shirke, Laxmikant’s elder brother, said the diary of Francis Martin, a French officer who served as an envoy in the Maratha court, revealed that it were the scribes of the court who had betrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. “It is sad that people think of Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke as khalnayak,” he said.
He also said before the film was released, the family had approached the offices of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and others. “We also informed the director of the film and others associated with it that what they were showing was wrong and they should not do it. They did not take any action and ignored us and released the film,” he told The Indian Express.
What Has Director Laxman Utekar Said?
In response to the backlash, director Laxman Utekar reached out to Bhushan Shirke, another descendant, to offer an apology. He attempted to clarify that the film did not explicitly mention their surname or village.
“We have only mentioned the names of Ganoji and Kanhoji in Chhaava, without referring to their surname. We’ve also made sure not to disclose the village they belonged to. Our intention was not to hurt the sentiments of the Shirke family. I sincerely apologise if Chhaava caused any discomfort,” Utekar reportedly told Bhushan Shirke.
Despite the director’s apology, the Shirke family has maintained their stance and warned that they will escalate the matter with protests if their concerns are not addressed.
Shirke Family Fights The Stigma
According to the Shirkes, the family has been combating public memory of Ganoji Shirke and Kanhoji Shirke as traitors of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for centuries. Deepak Raje Shirke said the situation worsened after Shivaji Sawant’s popular historical novel Chhava was published in 1979.
“Earlier, historical literature was limited to a niche readership. But with the rise of social media, misinformation spreads rapidly. People consume these narratives without question, leading to misplaced suspicion towards us,” he told Hindustan Times.
Laxmikant Raje Shirke pointed out that their family’s history has often been used in politics. He said many of their relatives are in active politics, and during elections, opposition parties exploit “our surname against us”.
He said his brother Devidas Raje, a former deputy sarpanch of Pedgaon in Ahilyanagar district, was frequently targeted over our so-called ‘betrayal legacy’ during his campaigns.”
Laxmikant even recalled an incident during the Gram Panchayat elections in 2017-18 when their family was taunted: “If they weren’t loyal to the Raje (King) then, how can they be loyal to the people now?”
In 2009, the family filed an RTI application with the directorate of archives, seeking any documentary evidence linking Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke to Sambhaji Maharaj’s capture by the Mughals. “No such proof was found,” said Laxmikant.
