As part of the 300th birth anniversary of the Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced that through the state-run Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation, it would produce a Marathi and multilingual commercial film on the life and times of the legendary Holkar-queen of the Maratha-Malwa.
Talking to media persons at Chondi in Jamkhed tehsil of Ahilyanagar district – the birthplace of Ahilyadevi Holkar, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that a biopic on the iconic Holkar-queen of the Maratha-Malwa would be made in Marathi and other
languages.
“The Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation will be the nodal agency for the film project.
“Since it will be a commercial film, the required expenses will be made available through the budgetary demands,” Fadnavis said. Ahilyabai Holkar (May 31, 1725 – August 13, 1795), was a great pioneer and involved in several social causes and helped build hundreds of temples and dharamshalas throughout India.
The year 2025 marks the 300th birth anniversary of the legendary queen.
Tuesday’s was the first-ever state Cabinet meeting held after the Maharashtra government rechristened Ahmednagar as Ahilyanagar in honour of the legendary queen.
While Fadnavis president presided over the State Cabinet meeting, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and all Cabinet ministers and ministers of state were present at the meeting. Ahilyabai Holkar was born Chaundi in Ahmednagar district to a Dhangar family and was married to Khanderao Holkar of the Holkar dynasty of Holkar.
After the demise of her husband Khanderao Holkar and father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai Holkar herself took over reins of the Holkar dynasty.
She defended the Malwa state against intruders and personally led armies into battle.
Ahilyabai Holkar was a prominent and influential figure of Indian history and is regarded as one of the most visionary female rulers of the country.
The MahaYuti government’s decision to rename Ahmednagar as Ahilyanagar is of political significance considering that the Dhangars account for 9 to 10 per cent of the state’s population.
After the Marathas, Dhangars are the biggest community in the state.
The Dhangar community - traditional nomadic shepherds - who get 3.5 per cent reservation in education and jobs under NT (C) category demand that they be placed under STs, which has a 7 per cent quota. The Dhangar community leaders claim ‘Dhangar’ and ‘Dhangad’ are the same and a “typographical error” has deprived them in Maharashtra to get the ST benefits unlike other states.