Director Digpal Lanjekar heaves a sigh of relief, as he gets notations of the film, ‘Pawankhind’ going house full in all theatres. But that does not stop him from working as he heads for meetings with his actor producer Chinmay Mandlekar to begin post production work on the 4th film in his 8 film offering on Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life.

Digpal had created ripples with Farzand in 2018 followed by Fatteshikast in 2019, Pawankhind is his third film in the 8 film Octology on the life and times of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“This film is special because, this historical war film, probably for the first time that a film was shot in 28 days, with 250 cast and crew on location in Malhargad  and other places right before Covid,” said Digpal Lanjekar.

Lanjekar said, “I have been studying and researching about Chatrapati Shivaji for the past 15 years and this is what guides me to make films on his tales of valour, his immense knowledge of warfare and him as a King to many. Books written on him guide me in my journey to bring his life on the screen. There are minute details of his work on problems he faced and also solutions that he presented.”

Pawankhind is special and was the most difficult to recreate on screen. “Imagine the hard strenuous running of more than 10 hours with 600 mavalas, escaping from the web of Mughals, fighting the jungle, lashing rain to reach Vishalgad from Panhala. I have tried to tell this tale of Raja Shivaji’s tactics and wit, of the heroic battle fought by Baji Prabhu Deshpande and the Bandal Sena until Raja was safely on the fort, the pain and the struggle to blow the cannons to relay the message of the King to the valiant fighter Baji Pabhu, who was holding the enemy with handful of Bandals,” said Lanjekar.

This has been possible only because of the 250 crew and the cast who believe in this film series. “They have supported me wholeheartedly and helped release the pressure on such large production,” he added.

While working on such historical films, Lanekar also points out that they have not reduced the grandeur and accuracy of telling the story. “We have undergone training and have knowledge of the Maratha war fare, which helps in bringing fight scenes alive and natural.”

Even the looks and costumes in such historical films matter. “All the looks of the characters are difficult to maintain, and you need to be accurate, one cannot use liberty with the costume or make up. For example, Bandals wear a round tikka, even today. Even the Angrakha, their position in the society… everything needs to be as accurate as history depicts it.”

“I feel that Raja Shivaji’s greatness and his knowledge should reach as many people as possible. His jingoism, his vision over economy, literature, technology is immense and this should be told for the youth to know and understand,” concludes Lanjekar.