Bajirao matani. Review on Bajirao Mastani

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming project ‘Bajirao Mastani’ will see Ranveer Singh in the shoes of Bajirao, and Deepika Padukone playing the role of Mastani.

Daughter of Maharaja Chhatrasal of the establishment of Bundelkhand, Mastani was a strong woman who was adept in dancing and singing, and also knew the art of horse-riding and spear-throwing. Her mother, Ruhaani Bai, was a Persian-Muslim who was a court dancer at the Nizam of Hyderabad.

History tells us that Bajirao had rescued Chhatrasal after Mohammad Khan Bangash  invaded Chhattrasal’s kingdom during 1727-1728. Bajirao broke down Bangash's army, and builded Chhatrasal up to his throne. This gesture of Bajirao had indebted Chattrasal and he was highly obliged.

In a spur of gratitude, he awarded him with his daughter Mastani. Bajirao and Mastani gave birth to a child who was named Shamsher Bahadur. Mastani  lived with Bajirao at his palace of Shaniwar Wada(Pune). But because of Bajirao’s family's reluctance to accept  Mastani as their daughter-in-law, Bajirao had later  in 1734,  built a separate residence for Mastani at Kothrud.

Ranveer Singh will be seen playing the role of Bajirao I, whose original name was Bajirao I Bajirao Ballal(Balaji) Bhat(18 August 1700 – 28 April 1740).  Due to the death of his father, Balaji Vishwanath who was the first Peshwa of Chhattrapati Shahu, Bajirao had to be appointed as Peshawa at the tender age of 20 years. He was also considered to be an eminent personality among the soldiers.

Bajirao is acclaimed for the fact that he fought over 41 battles and had reportedly never lost any of them. This has been confirmed by General Montgomery, a British general, in his historical writings. He followed the pace of his father and became the first to understand the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire and exploit them by the principle of ‘Divide and Rule.’

Bajirao was the one who initiated to moving the administrative capital of the Maratha Empire from Satara to the city of Pune in 1728, and was successful in his attempt. Maratha Empire had lost their confidence in the authority after their idol Shivaji had left them. But Bajirao re-installed their faith and dominated the sub-continent for entire 18th century before the British people came to power in the 19th century.