Reel Histories and Nationalism: Historical Narratives and Caste Politics in Marathi Cinema

Abstract

The paper argues that such portrayals contributed to the vilification of Muslims in the post-colonial era and facilitated the integration of a conservative, upper-caste-centric narrative into mainstream cultural and historical discourse. Interestingly, despite the vigorous non-Brahmin activism that subsequently shaped Maharashtra’s political discourse, the conservative depiction of Shivaji and Maratha history persisted unchallenged within cinema. Against this backdrop, the paper seeks to analyze the history of post-colonial society through the lens of cinema, exploring how cinematic representations have been shaped by and, in turn, have reinforced dominant political and ideological frameworks. By examining the interplay between visual narratives and socio-political contexts, my paper aims to uncover how cinema functions as a medium of cultural articulation and ideological dissemination.