Bajirao Mastani is a period movie by famous movie maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali based on the life of King Baji Rao (played by Ranveer Singh) and his wives (played Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone).
The movie will be released in month’s time. Slowly, movie scenes and songs are doling out.
Recently the movie released its second song called Pinga. It received mixed reviews, some criticized it and some said how raving the song was.
And now the song is in news again as Bajirao’s descendant, Mohini Karkarey, has slammed the song for not getting the facts right.
She wrote an open letter in DNA publication. She lashed out by giving facts and asked the maker of movie that did he do any research for the song and movie. She also said that these distorted facts, which will be presented in the movie, will make a mockery out of the Peshwa family.
Here is the open letter by Bajirao’s kin:
Mr. Bhansali,
The time has now come to speak out, to speak out against the picturization in the song and certain scenes from your movie, Bajirao Mastani. The latest song Pinga and the dance sequence which you have promoted have a lot of undesirable elements.
This is not fiction, Mr. Bhansali.
You have portrayed real people who have been recorded in history. The Peshwas ruled for more than 100 years. Did you do any research at all? Did you, for instance, understand the life and times of people in the 1700s? Do you know and understand their behavioral pattern?
Here are a few recorded facts for your perusal:
Fact 1: Kashibai Saheb was suffering from tuberculosis and had arthritis. Due to this she had a limp.
Fact 2: Kashibai would never get into a dance routine even if she was healthy because that was not in the culture.
Fact 3: The costumes shown in the song Pinga were never worn by royal families or even normal women. The way the nauvari was draped did not show even an ounce of skin.
Fact 4: Kashibai and Mastani met only once in their lifetime and that too formally.
Fact 5: Kashibai was the daughter of Mahadji Krishna Joshi from Chaas and was known as Chaskar Joshi. Her descendants are still alive.
Fact 6: Mastani was not a courtesan or dancer. She was the daughter of Raja Chatrasaal of Bundelkhand. She was married to Bajirao and was his second wife. Mastani’s descendants, the Nawabs of Banda, will give you enough proof of this.
Proof of all the facts is available on Peshwe Gharanyacha Itihas by Mr. Pramod Oak and you will find plenty more proof here in Peshwe Daptar.
Bajirao was a great warrior second only to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. With this so called love story, you have made a mockery of him. You have insulted the very essence of Maharashtrian families. This will definitely create a flawed image about such a great personality and his family.
Yours sincerely,
Mohini Karkarey
If you have not seen this controversial song, then do have a look here:
Still Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not given any statement on the allegations directed towards him by this open letter.
