Kartik Rajaram Kendhe’s Shivpratap Garudzep (2022) is yet another film based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Marathi cinema has seen a series of films based on the Maratha empire’s founder over the last few years.
But the teaser of Shivpratap Garudzep presents the film as a typical hero versus villain saga. We are shown Mughal ruler Aurangzeb (Yatin Karyekar) arriving and demolishing Hindu temples, while attacking devotees. He arrogantly asks whether there is anyone who can stop him. The teaser then cuts to a grand entry of Shivaji Maharaj as the saviour of Hindus.
Along with these scenes, the background score and the presentation also makes it clear that the film has been created while keeping the single screen audience or masses in mind. Such sequences generally garner claps and whistles, especially when the protagonist is shown in a slow-motion sequence.
Shivpratap Garudzep will look at one iconic incident from Maratha history when Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji were held captive by Aurangzeb and how they manage to escape unharmed.
Dr Amol Kolhe, who is also the film’s producer, looks competent as the protagonist. Karyekar plays a typical Mughal that we are accustomed to see in films of this genre. Interestingly, both the actors had played Shivaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb in the television show Raja Shivchatrapati, which aired from 2008 to 2009.
Shivpratap Garudzep is due to be released in theatres on the occasion of Dussehra on 5 October. The film will be clashing at the box office with the Shreyas Talpade and Mukta Barve-starrer Aapdi Thaapdi (2022), which is also scheduled to release on the same day.
Watch the teaser and let us know if you would be keen to see the film.