Delhi elections 2020: 'Tanhaji' spoof depicting Modi as hero, Kejriwal as villain irks Shiv Sena

A morphed video trailer of Bollywood superhit 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior' depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as Tanaji Malusare - has triggered a political controversy in Maharashtra.

In the tongue-in-cheek "trailer", Delhi chief minister and AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal has been depicted and lampooned as Udaybhan Singh Rathore.

The video clip and still images have gone viral on social media on Tuesday. It was posted by social media handle 'Political Kida' - and comes in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections. The Shiv Sena has reacted sharply to the clip.

"We will not tolerate this...insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tanaji would not be tolerated," Shiv Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said.

The battle of Sinhagad fort (earlier Kondhana fort) - that is the theme of the film - was used to draw a political connection and captioned "jo Dilli jeet gaya, samjho dil jeet gaya".
Meanwhile, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has approached YouTube to remove a video following the outrage.

In the spoof, Shivaji's face, a character played by Sharad Kelkar, was removed with that of Modi and Tanaji's face, a character essayed by Ajay Devgn was morphed with that of Shah. Saif Ali Khan's face was removed and morphed with that of Kejriwal.

The BJP, however, has disassociated with the video. "We do not have any connection, even remotely.... we worship Shivaji as God," BJP spokesperson and MLA Ram Kadam said.

Joining issue with the Shiv Sena, President-nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, the 13th direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, said at first it was a book and now a film trailer that has hurt the sentiments of Shiv-bhakts.

“The image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj cannot be sullied for lowly politics. This is unbefitting, intolerable, and condemnable… The Central government must investigate this immediately and take proper action against those responsible,” urged Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati.

"Morphing Modi to Shivaji Maharaj's face and Shah to Tanaji's was a big mistake of IT Cell. All of Maharashtra is united in condemning this insult to our leaders. your megalomania will take you down," AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said.