Swara Bhasker’s Biggest Controversies: From Chhaava to Political Debates and Film Criticism
Swara Bhasker has once again courted controversy with her latest X post, where she questioned the audience's response to the period film Chhaava. The film, starring Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji Maharaj, has been widely praised for its take on the Maratha warrior's plight. But Bhasker's comments on the film's take on history have evoked sharp responses on social media.
The actress tweeted, "A society more outraged about the greatly exaggerated partly fictionalized filmy torture of Hindus 500 years ago than they are about the appalling death by stampede & mismanagement + then claimed JCB bulldozer handling of bodies – is a brain & soul-dead society. #IYKYK"
Most were offended, blaming Bhasker for trivializing the torture of Sambhaji Maharaj at the hands of Aurangzeb. Historians and netizens quickly came to her defense, questioning her interpretation of the historical accuracy of the film.
Strong Reactions from Netizens
One of the users commented, "Rethink this tweet, Swara. I am a Delhi University student of history, and there is nothing even remotely fictional about the torture Sambhaji Maharaj suffered at the hands of Aurangzeb. Let's not play games with our history."
Another one said, "'Fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus'?! How dare you trivialize Sambhaji Maharaj's supreme sacrifice? This is an insult to millions of Indians."
Major social media user Rishi Bagree commented, Conversely, the film failed to reveal even a proportion of the tortures that were imposed on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje.
Film's Box Office Success
Despite all the controversy, Chhaava keeps finding success at the box office. Laxman Utekar directs it and Dinesh Vijan produces it. It brings alive Sambhaji Maharaj's courage, who was Shivaji Maharaj's eldest son. Rashmika Mandanna is Maharani Yesubai and Akshaye Khanna is Aurangzeb.
The film is based on the Marathi novel Chhava written by Shivaji Sawant, and it essentially captures Sambhaji's brutally torturous experience at the hands of the Mughal forces. At the same time, he was asked to surrender his forts and wealth and convert to Islam. He could not do so and thus faced the most horrific kind of execution.
Swara Bhasker's Recent Online Clashes
Bhasker has repeatedly been at the center of social media controversy. She recently also reacted to trolls who were critical of her outfit after she married Fahad Ahmad. In a tongue-in-cheek post, she called the criticism a 'national cyber debate' and posted more photos to counteract criticism.
She also added that her outspokenness on social media has impacted her profession, saying that standing up on social issues has had a cost to her professional life.
Swara Bhaskar Controversies
Swara Bhasker’s bold opinions keep stirring controversy, and Chhaava is just the latest addition. Swara Bhaskar has found herself in many controversies throughout her career because of her outspokenness and political stance. These are some of the most significant ones:
1. "Veere Di Wedding" Scene: Swara was criticized for a kissing scene with her co-star in the film "Veere Di Wedding." People criticized her for the kiss, but she justified it as a storyline of her character.
2. "Padmaavat" comments: Swara had condemned the movie "Padmaavat" for the depiction of the act of Jauhar (mass self-immolation) and wondered why such practices were being glorified. Her remarks initiated a debate regarding historical authenticity and artistic liberty.
3. Farmers' Protests Support: Swara has also been outspoken in her support of the farmers' protests in India. She spoke out against the government's actions and expressed support for the farmers, which garnered both support and criticism from several quarters.
4. Remarks on "Chhaava": Swara was recently attacked for her remarks likening the outrage over the fictionalized torture of Hindus in the movie "Chhaava" to that over the Mahakumbh stampede tragedy. Several criticized her for trivializing atrocities in the past and offending sentiments.
Swara's invariable ability to say whatever comes to her mind brings her to the limelight often, and though she has a great following, she is criticized heavily for her opinions as well.
Final Thoughts on Recent Entertainment Controversy
As Chhaava remains well-received and appreciated for its storytelling, Swara Bhasker's comments have created new debates about historical portrayal and public opinion, bringing into question the existing debate regarding the presentation of history in film.