Bajirao Peshwa's Glorious History Languishing in State Apathy

December 20, 2015

Mumbai, Dec 20: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s fictional Bollywood epic Bajirao Mastani might have generated curiosity about the great prime minister of the Maratha kingdom, but the Peshwa’s real history is not known to many, thanks to the government’s apathy in showcasing his full glory and true history.

BajiraoAccording to Pune historian Mandar Lawate, nearly four crore manuscripts, letters and other ancient documents written in Modi Lipi (ancient cursive form of Marathi script) dating back to the reign of Bajirao Peshwa are languishing in his seat of power Shanivarwada in the heart of Pune.

“During their reign, the British had preserved these documents at Shanivarwada. Only Maratha history between 1630 and 1680 AD (reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) is known to the outside world. The rest has been treated as less important by the government,” Lawate said.

The Modi Lipi documents describe the history of the Peshwas, their conquests and narrate how Bajirao won all the 40 battles he fought. They also explain how his marriage to his second wife Mastani was a part of a political alignment between Marathas and Mastani’s father, King Chhatrasal.

“As there are very few people who can decode Modi Lipi, the true history of the expansion of the Maratha empire is largely unknown,” Lawate said.

Vishwas Patil, the national award-winning author of books Panipat and Mahanayak, said that the government’s apathy has deprived the new generation of knowing real Maratha history. “Mastani’s mother was believed to be Iranian. Traces of her roots can be found in the letters she wrote to Nanaji Peshwa after the latter coroneted her nephew to the throne of Banda in Madhya Pradesh. These letters should be made public,” Patil said.

He adds that Mastani’s dignity and character can be known from the letters. “Mastani and Kashibai (Bajirao’s first wife) never came face to face. I am sure Mastani would have bowed and touched Kashibai’s feet, she was that dignified in her upbringing,” he said.

About the movie Bajirao Mastani, he said: “The problem with our producers and directors is that they do not do thorough research, are not aware of history and lack confidence. Sir Richard Attenborough made Gandhi, but he did not twist historical facts.”

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News Network
January 9,2020

New Delhi, Jan 9: A Delhi court Thursday directed the makers of the Deepika Padukone starer feature film 'Chhapaak' to give credit to acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal’s lawyer in the movie.

Additional Civil Judge Pankaj Sharma said it was necessary that advocate Aparna Bhat's contribution is acknowledged.

"This Court is of the considered view that facts are indicative that the plea of the plaintiff for interim injunction is well-founded and it is necessary that her contribution be acknowledged by providing on the slide on the actual footage and the images, the line 'Aparna Bhat continues to fight the cases of sexual and physical violence against women' during the screening of the film.

"The said line on screen maybe with a rider that the same is with the court order," the judge said.

Advocate Bhat filed the application saying that despite representing Agarwal in courts for several years and helping in the movie-making, she was not given credit in the movie.

She said the filmmakers took her help in the entire process of writing and shooting the movie, but did not give the credit.

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News Network
May 15,2020

New Delhi, May 15: In an attempt to constructively use leisure time during the lockdown, actor Bhumi Pednekar has started learning Kathak from her mother, Sumitra Pednekar, who is a trained dancer of this discipline.

Elaborating on her keenness to enhance her knowledge on the dance form, the actor explained about her routine followed for the dance practice and how much she is enjoying it.

"I wanted to learn kathak for a long time as my mother is a trained Kathak dancer! So, for about an hour in the evening this what I and my mom do. She is quite enjoying it and I'm loving learning it from her!" the 30-year-old actor said.

The growing fear of coronavirus has halted many entertainment shootings and productions. The 'Pati Patni Aur Who' actor referring to the current situation opened about the uncertainties of going back to shootings.

"It has put a big question mark on when will we get back to work and how things are going to be. There's a lot of uncertainty. Of course, our dates and schedules have gone haywire and we can't plan anything," she added.

However, the 'Bala' actor is finding a silver lining among the gloom as she says that the time has given her an opportunity to get back to what she used to love as a child - the habit of reading.

"I was a voracious reader but since entering Bollywood I haven't got a chance to read something at a stretch," she said.

"But now, I have got all the time and I'm making full use of the time at hand. I have been watching TED talks and have been reading a lot about climate change because that is something, I am severely passionate about. This time has been very educational for me," she added.

On the professional front, Pednekar will be soon seen as a leading lady in the Akshay Kumar's 'Durgavati' and award-winning director Alankrita Srivastava's 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare'.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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