Context: A scene from the trailer of the upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has led to controversy in Maharashtra. In the scene actor who portrays the king, is seen performing the Lezim (also spelt lazium) folk dance.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Lezium Folk Dance.
Lezim / Lazium / Lezium Folk Dance
- State: Maharashtra
- Musical instrument: Lezim, a unique wooden stick, with jingling cymbals attached to it that the dancers carry while performing the dance.
- Dholki, a drum instrument, is used as the main percussion music in the performance.
- Performance:
- During the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Lezim was a sport played by men to build their muscles.
- Some of the community preserved this sport and started performing it as a dance performance. It is mainly performed during the Ganesha festival i.e., Ganesh Chaturthi.
- In the present time, it has become part of physical education drills in schools and colleges in the state.
- Costume: The dancers wear a traditional costume which consists of a white kurta, pajama and a colorful belt with a colourful turban.
Variations of Lezim Dance (Seldom used today)
- Reedh & Dhanusyasarakhi: A 2.5 feet long bamboo pole, called the Reedh was used which was connected with an iron chain called Dhanusyasarakhi. The primary purpose of using this heavy prop was to exercise and make the body strong.
- Koyande: A 15-18 inches long wooden pole was used. The pole was hollow from the inside. The hollow part was used to connect a one kg iron chain to the bar by running it through from one end to another. Another 6 inches long chain was connected to the pole called Salaisakhali.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
- He was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He was the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, ruling from 1681 to 1689.
- He came to power following a bloody succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681.
- The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was a contemporary.
- His rule was largely shaped by the wars between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire, as well as other neighbouring powers such as the Abyssinians of Janjira, Wadiyars of Mysore and the Portuguese Empire in Goa.
- Sambhaji and 25 of his advisors were captured by the Mughal forces of Muqarrab Khan in a skirmish at Sangameshwar (Ratnagiri District) in 1689.
- Chhatrapati Sambhaji and his minister Kavi Kalash were brought to Tulapur (Pune district), where they were tortured and executed under the orders of Aurangzeb.