Har Har Mahadev

Did You Know?

• The teaser included a voice-over by Raj Thackeray.
• The trailer received 5 million views in less than 24 hours on YouTube.
• It was the first Marathi film released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.

Plot

Concerned by Shivaji's growing power, local feudal lords and Watandars approach Baji Prabhu to curb the young warrior. When Shivaji meets Baji Prabhu and shares his vision of a people-centric rule, Baji Prabhu shifts his loyalty, and the two develop a deep mutual respect. Shivaji decides to escape to Vishalgad fort under cover of darkness. On a rainy night, he and about 300 soldiers, led by Baji Prabhu, break through the siege. As the pursuing Adilshahi force closes in, Baji Prabhu holds them at the narrow mountain pass of Pavan Khind, allowing Shivaji to reach safety. Shivaji is to signal retreat with three cannon shots from Vishalgad. Baji Prabhu and his 300 warriors fight the vastly larger enemy for hours. Despite being wounded by gunfire, Baji Prabhu continues fighting. Upon hearing the three cannon shots, he knows his mission is complete. He and his warriors die as martyrs, having held back thousands of enemy soldiers, cementing the legend of the Maratha warriors and aiding Shivaji's vision of Hindavi Swarajya.

Reception

Har Har Mahadev received critical acclaim for its direction, cast performances, cinematography, visual effects, and emotional weight. Subhash K Jha of IWM Buzz gave 4 out of 5 stars, calling it an experience of a lifetime. Shalmesh More of Koimoi.com rated it 3.5 out of 5, noting its emotional treatment. Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 stars, praising the spectacle but citing low repeat value. Shaheen Irani of OTTplay rated it 3 out of 5, praising the last hour but finding the music lacking. Mayur Sanap of Rediff.com gave 2.5 out of 5, calling it an emotionally-charged war drama with flaws. Sameer Ahire of Movie Talkies gave 2.5 out of 5, criticizing the direction while appreciating Sharad Kelkar's performance. Film Information gave positive reviews, noting impactful direction and camerawork but criticizing the editing.

Controversy

After the trailer release, the Bandal descendants objected, alleging false history. Within a week of the film's release, Amol Mitkari of the Nationalist Congress Party and Sambhaji Raje, a direct descendant of Shivaji, criticized it as misleading historical revisionism. On 7 November 2022, MLA Jitendra Awad and NCP workers shut down a screening in Thane's Viviana Mall, and a fan was assaulted. The director stated the film was based on historical sources and submitted to the Censor Board.