Chhaava

A messenger informs the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb of Shivaji Maharaj's death, signaling the end of a formidable foe. Aurangzeb acknowledges the loss but immediately moves to celebrate his succession and the apparent decay of Maratha resistance. The court's mood shifts from cautious to confident that the rebellion will crumble.

Aurangzeb announces a grand celebration despite the news of Shivaji's death. The courtiers exude confidence that the Maratha Confederacy will soon dissolve under Mughal might. The paradox of celebration amid rising resistance sets the tone for upcoming campaigns.

Shivaji's son Sambhaji quickly takes charge of the resistance and leads a bold strike on Burhanpur, a key Mughal province. The Marathas launch a surprise assault that leaves the city's defenders reeling. The assault marks the new phase of open Maratha resistance.

During the Burhanpur attack, Sambhaji steps on a trapdoor and tumbles into a chamber housing a lion. He confronts the beast with bravery and even manages to split its jaw, delaying Mughal relief. The audacious act becomes a legendary testament to his resolve.

News of Sambhaji's bold assault reaches Aurangzeb, who responds by launching a vast military crusade to stabilize his authority. The Mughal campaign intensifies as the Deccan becomes a battlefield of attrition. The scale of the response signals a determination to crush Maratha resistance.

Sambhaji is welcomed back by his wife Yesubai and is formally crowned as the Chhatrapati. The ceremony consolidates his leadership and renews the vow to resist Mughal domination. The Marathas rally around the new sovereign though threats loom from within court politics.

Soyarabai, Sambhaji's stepmother, along with Annaji Datto Sachiv and others, schemes to dethrone Sambhaji in favor of Soyarabai's son Rajaram. The conspiracy reveals the fragile nature of succession and the ambitions within the royal circle. The plot sets the stage for internal Maratha strife amid ongoing wars with the Mughal empire.

Mirza Muhammad Akbar, Aurangzeb's estranged son, seeks Sambhaji's support against his father. When he reveals Soyarabai's scheming, Sambhaji pledges to protect Akbar and suppress the treacherous courtiers. He then confronts the conspirators and executes those who plotted to change the line of succession.

Facing overwhelming odds, Sambhaji implements guerrilla tactics to subdue Mughal troops. He leverages the Deccan's rough terrain to inflict heavy losses and sustain the Confederacy. The strategy keeps the resistance alive despite diminishing resources.

Soyarabai dies of illness, clearing some political tension, and Sambhaji takes responsibility for Rajaram's future by arranging his wedding to Hambirrao Mohite's daughter Tarabai. Amid battlefield setbacks, Hambirrao Mohite dies in combat, deepening leadership challenges for the Marathas.

Insulted by the persistent defeats, Aurangzeb vows to remain uncrowned until Sambhaji is crushed, signaling a personal vendetta that intensifies the siege. The Mughal king's resolve hardens as the war drags on. The imperial leadership focuses on eradicating the Maratha resistance.

Zinat-un-Nissa plans to imprison her brother Mirza Akbar, but Sambhaji foils her plots. He uncovers apostatised Jagirdars and convenes a conference at Sangameshwar to rally the loyalists and inspire continued resistance. The assembly renews the Confederacy's resolve.

Yesubai's resentful brothers betray Sambhaji by helping the Mughal leaders locate him during a night operation with a small army of 150. The deception leads to a deadly ambush and a decisive moment in the campaign. The risk shows how internal rivalries threaten the whole resistance.

The Mughal ambush overwhelms Sambhaji's forces and he is captured along with his advisor Kavi Kalash. Aurangzeb offers him a chance to surrender, but Sambhaji remains unyielding to his ideals. Kalash is executed while Sambhaji endures brutal torture over 40 days.

Yesubai steps in to endorse the resistance and crowns Rajaram as the next Chhatrapati. An epilogue reveals that the Maratha Empire eventually triumphed while the Mughal Empire collapsed within three decades of Sambhaji's death. The saga closes on the note of enduring resistance and a volatile empire's end.