Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant unveils trailer of Maharashtra Shahir

By Jyothi venkatesh

The trailer of much awaited Marathi film Maharashtra Shahir, the biopic of noted folk artist of yesteryear Krishnarao Ganpatraoakka Shahir Sable was unveiled by Industry minister Uday Samant recently at Savarkar, Auditorium, Shivaji Park , Dadar. The musical extravaganza, Maharashtra Shahir is set to be a treat to the audience with equally gripping emotive content and Socio-Political references. The trailer released on Tuesday gives a glimpse of quality entertainment.

Produced by Sanjay Chhabria of Everest Entertainment and Bela Kedar Shinde of Kedar Shinde Productions, the film will hit the screens across the state on April 28, 2023. Leading music composer duo Ajay-Atul has composed the music for the film while it has been written by senior writer and director Pratima Kulkarni. The film is part of Shahir Sable’s centenary year celebration started in September last year. Director Kedar Shinde, Producers Sanjay Chhabria, Bela Kedar Shinde, Actors Ankush Chaudhari, Sana Kedar Shinde, Music Composer Ajay-Atul and key crew members were present on the occasion.

Industries minister Uday Samant announced to arrange shows of Maharashtra Shahir at schools so that the young generation is aware of the contribution by Shahir Sable. “I was not born when the Samyukta Maharashtra movement took place. I have read about it. Shahir exhibited what type of challenge could be posed and awareness is created with the help of folk art in any movement. The primary motive of the film is to take Sahhir Sable to the young generation. I am thankful to producer Sanjay Chabria for these efforts. It is imperative for the government to stand by such films. I am taking the responsibility of taking the film to all school going children by arranging special shows for them in schools. It will help to make them aware of Shahir and his folk art,” he said.

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Samant said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will attend the film release function on April 28. “I will request him to grace the occasion. He will make the announcements related to the film and Shahir Sable. I had the honor to release the fund of Rs 3 crore for Shahir Sable Adhyasan, the first such chair to be named after him in the country. As a friend, I assure Kedar Shinde that whatever support needs to be extended to the film from Maharashtra government will be extended,” he said.

Ankush Chaudhari said that the producer and director have succeeded in producing a very beautiful biopic. “It is a must-watch film for all of us. We should also ensure that it is watched by the youngsters. It will help us in taking folk art, and folk culture to next generation. It is the symbol of pride for the nation, Maharashtra, and the language. It reflects the ideology, thoughts, and passion of the Shahir. We have added a new song that was under the wrap during his lifespan. It is liked by music lovers. I am certain that the film is going to give you an exceptional experience on its release on April 28,” he said.

The film has created a buzz in the film industry for its high budget production values and also because it is seen to be a musical extravaganza based on the life of a multi-faceted folk artist.

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The trailer begins with the most popular folk song of yesteryear Maharashtra Bhumi Bahuguni…that gives you chills and reaffirms the high quality of the production value of the film. “Stop Mr Sable, You Cant sing like this… The word Maharashtra cannot come so many times in the song…” Shahir is stopped from singing after those preliminary words hailing the culture of Maharashtra. Rebellious Shahir gives the person back saying, “Then what I am expected to narrate about the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji? Where did he born, in Delhi or Culcutta?,” he replies. There are many such scenes in the films depicted to showcase various factors of Shahir’s personality right from his tough and firm mindset to rebellious thoughts. In another scene, he fights with his mother for his love for singing. “Even if you hit me hard, I will not give up singing…” he warns his mother. One more scene comes with him warning a political leader by saying, “We are artists, not helpless stooge.” The trailer throws up various aspects of his personality creating curiosity about the film.

The trailer also has various scenes between Shahir and hisgirlfriend Bhanumati who later turned to be his true better half. One day, Shahir comes home with his wife in wedding attire without informing them about the marriage to the parents. His mother gets angry at him. In another scene, Bhanumati tells him that she will pen lyrics for the songs to be sung by him. “Even you should come to know about your ability as a singer withoutmy words in them…” a dialogue by her in another scene, leaves the audience guessing about their relationship. Shahir was an influential personality in the socio-political spectrum and it reflects in some of the scenes showcased in the film. In one scene Shahir stands in front of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, and tells him, “You claim that the party is born for 20% politics and 80% social work….I have come here to you for 80% social work.”

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Director of the film Kedar Shinde said, “We released a teaser of the film on 8th death anniversary of Shahir Sable on March 20. It has been well received by the audience. They have been eagerly waiting for the film to release. We are sure that the trailer released today will take the curiosity about the film to another level.During the production of the film, what I realized about the Shahir is his great persona which keeps surfacing again and again. The biopic is being produced to carry forward his rich legacy and present it before the generations to come. The trailer is another glimpse of this documentation on the great and multi-faceted personality.”

Producer Sanjay Chhabria said, “We at Everest Entertainment also thrust upon quality content and high production values. Maharashtra Shahir is another testimony of these principles of the production house. We are proud to have the opportunity to work with leading director Kedar Shinde and ace music composer duo Ajay-Atul. They have been given an excellent production.”

Chhabria said that they have not compromised on budget and as a result of it, high-value production has evolved. Everest has earned the reputation of being a bankable production house producing & backing 23 Films in the last decade. Some of its popular films include record breaking hits such as ‘Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2’, ‘MeeShivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy’, ‘ShikshanachyaAaichaGho’, ‘Happy Journey’, ‘Coffee Ani BarachKahi’, ‘Tukaram’, ‘Aajcha Divas Majha’, ‘Morya’ to name a few.

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The state government recently accorded the state song status to Jay Jay Maharashtra Majha… sung by Shahir decades ago. It is considered to be a tribute to the great artist. There was a buzz among the filmgoers and even within the film industry about the names of the actors playing the characters of the personalities in the life of Shahir Sable. The Producers have been revealing the names one by one over the last few months. This has raised the curiosity bar about the film among film enthusiasts.

Incidentally, then USP of the film is that this correspondent has played a cameo role in the film as an ALL-INDIA RADIO Officer who objects to Shahir singing the word Maharashtra more than once in his song Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha