Shivaji Maharaj, Jijabai, Tanaji Malusare: 7 Historical Figures From Fatteshikast That You Need To Know About

Fatteshikast is a period drama directed by Digpal Lanjekar based on an important chapter of Maharashtra’s history. The film is set during the reign of the great Maratha king Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and follows the journey of his raid at the Lal Mahal. The event is considered as first-ever surgical strike in the history of the Marathas. This important account of history is presented with utmost conviction in this film starring Chinmay Mandlekar, Mrinal Kulkarni, and Rishi Saxena. Since it’s a period drama, there are historical figures who are central to the plot of the film. Let’s look at some of these memorable characters in history that you need to know about before watching the film on ZEE5.

Watch the video song Hechi Yel Deva Naka from the film here.

1. Shivaji Maharaj

Shivaji Maharaj (Chinmay Mandlekar) rose to power during the 16th century and was declared as the righteous king of the Maratha empire by the Marathas. Shivaji Maharaj dreamt of establishing self-rule or Swarajya in his kingdom and captured his first fort at the age of 16. Over the course of his life, the king managed to defend over 300 forts across Maharashtra by successfully defeating the forces of Adilshah, Nizamshah, Moghuls, as well as the European colonialists. He is considered to be the propagator of guerilla warfare in India.

2. Jijabai

Jijabai (Mrinal Kulkarni) was instrumental in imbibing the lessons of Swarajya in Shivaji Maharaj. The fearless mother of Shivaji Maharaj handled the affairs in his absence. She was considered to be a visionary who was responsible for developing various strategies of war along with Shivaji. Even in this film, Shivaji Maharaj declared war only after consulting his mother.

3. Tanaji Malusare

Tanaji Malusare was one of the most trusted men of Shivaji Maharaj who served as a Subhedar general in his Maratha army. His heroics came into the forefront when he sacrificed his life to win the fort of Kondhana which was later renamed as Sinhagad in his memory. We get to witness Tanaji’s contribution to the attack on the Lal Mahal in this film. Ajay Purkar played the role of this unsung hero in this period drama.

4. Shaista Khan

Shaista Khan (Anup Soni) had usurped power and waged war against the Marathas by getting the entire region of Pune in his control. Since he was the uncle of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, no one dared to mess with him. He took advantage of this position and settled down in Lal Mahal. The film is an account of his skirmish with Shivaji Maharaj who ransacked the palace in an attempt to assassinate Shaista Khan. Does he get killed in the battle? You’ll have to watch the film to find out!

5. Yesaji Kank

Yesaji Kank (Ankit Mohan) served as the Sardar Sarnobat of the Maratha infantry who remained loyal to Shivaji Maharaj until his death. Yesaji fought many battles including the infamous battle of Pratapgad which involved the killing of the Adilshahi general Afzal Khan and the blitzkrieg raid of Surat. His bravery is still retold in the folklore years after his death.

6. Bahirji Naik

Bahirji Naik was Shivaji’s trusted spy and also acted as a military commander in the army. He was the chief of intelligence known for his tactical methods that he put in action. His immense contribution to the battle at the Lal Mahal can be discovered in this film. Harish Dudhade breathed life in the character of Bahirji Naik in the film.

7. Kartalab Khan

Kartalab Khan (Aastad Kale) was a general in the army of the Mughals, who was sent by Shaista Khan to attack Rajgad. However, his attack was stopped midway when Shivaji Maharaj overpowered him in the battle of Umberkhind. Kartalab Khan was taken aback by the surprise strike on him and surrendered himself to the Maratha ruler. The lightning-fast defeat of Kartalab Khan is considered to be a textbook example of the successful implementation of guerilla warfare.

Now that you know about these historical characters, watch Fatteshikast which premieres on August 7 exclusively on ZEE5.

Check out the collection of more such entertaining Marathi films on ZEE5 here.

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