Time and again, history has been a source of inspiration for filmmakers who combine facts with spectacular visuals and bring to life a stunning portrait of the past events.
And this January 25, 2018, one shall get to see another fascinating chapter of history unfold on the silver screen as maverick director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus – Padmaavat will finally hit the screens.
Starring the likes of Deepika Padukone (Rani Padmavati), Shahid Kapoor (Maharawal Ratan Singh), and Ranveer Singh (Sultan Alauddin Khilji), SLB’s Padmaavat will trace the bold and fascinating life of the legendary Queen of Chittor, who was known for her valor and beauty.
But before you head to the cinema halls to watch her story come alive, here take a glance at some lesser known facts about the warrior queen who has always intrigued history buffs…
1) Padmavati was a legendary 13th-14thcentury Indian Queen, who was also known as Padmini.
2) While there are many references to Rani Padmavati, she was first mentioned in an epic poem in Awadhi – Padmavat, which was written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540. Before Padmavat, there have been no mention about Rani Padmavati in the Rajput history or even the Islamic ruler history of India. Hence many believe she was a figment of the poet’s imagination. However, the Rajput community reveres her as a deity and a bold queen who immolated herself to protect her honor.
3) There are Rajasthani folklore songs that talk about Rani Padmavati’s valour and beauty, which are derived from the 16th Century 'Gora Badal Padmini Chaupai', a Rajput adaption of the Padmavat.
4) The courageous Padmavati who was a skilled warrior was from Singhal kingdom, which today is known as Sri Lanka.
5) She had a talking parrot called Hiramani who was her close confidant. In fact, according to Padmavat, it was Hiramani, who sang praises of her beauty to King Ratan Singh of Chittor. The parrot praised his Padmini so much that the King got determined to marry Padmavati.
6) However, the it was not easy to win over the resplendent Padmavati. The princess had set out a condition for anyone who wished to marry her. They had to defeat a designated fighter in a sword fight in order to win her hand in marriage. Ratan Singh agreed to the condition. He fought with the sword fighter and won. Interestingly, it was the brave princess Padmini, who was in disguise as the fighter.
7) When Ratan Sen banished his Raj Purohit Raghav Chetan for fraud. To seek revenge Raghav Chetan went to the court of ruler Alauddin Khilji of Delhi Sultanate and informed him about Rani Padmavati’s exceptional beauty. The Sultan was enamored by the descriptions of Padmavati’s beauty and wanted to see it for himself.
8) Alauddin Khilji sent a word to Maharawal Ratan Singh that he wish to see the Queen and witness her beauty for real. Alauddin was known to be one of the most powerful rulers and sensing the danger his kingdom would be under if he rejects the proposal, Ratan Singh agreed. However, the brave Queen Padmini refused to meet Khilji in person and suggested he can see her reflection instead. Reluctantly Khilji agreed and arrangements were then made in such a way that he could only see her reflection. Upon seeing her reflection, Khilji got completely obsessed with Rani Padmini and fell in love with her.
9) He even attacked the kingdom of Chittorgarh and captured Ratan Singh. He sent a message to Padmini that the king would be released if she agrees to go along with him.
10) But Rani Padmini again displayed extreme courage and instead sent out 700 troops to rescue her husband. The troops were successful in rescuing the king.
11) However, Ratan Singh lost his life in a battle that soon ensued and Alauddin Khilji ordered his forces to invade Chittor and capture Padmini and other women of Chittor. But the brave Rani Padmini again displayed extreme valor and made a bold move to immolate herself along with Ratan Singh’s first wife and wives of army men than sacrifice her honour. So while Khilji sent his army of men to capture them, Rani Padmini along with the other women boldly walked down the secret passage linked from Chittor fort into the Jauhar Kund. Legend has it that Rani Padmini was the first one to jump into the Jauhar Kund.
Rani Padmini may have sacrificed her life but stories of her grit and determination have immortalized her. And we can’t wait to watch her brave story come to life in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati.
Meanwhile, watch the spectacular trailer of the film here:
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