Kavi Kalash

Kavi Kalash was an Indian poet, military commander and a close friend of Chhatrapati Sambhaji I of the Maratha Empire who reigned from 1680 to 1689.

He was portrayed by Vineet Kumar Singh in the 2025 Hindi film Chhaava.

Early life Born in Unnao district, Kalash was a Kanyakubja Brahmin by birth and an administrator as well as a warrior who accompanied Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in many of his campaigns. He is known to have defeated Shahabuddin Khan in a fierce battle near Raigad Fort in 1684. He was given the title, Chandogamatya (Pinnacle of Poets), by Sambhaji Maharaj.

Death

In March 1689, Kavi Kalash was captured along with Maratha King Sambhaji by the Mughal army under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Sangameshwar, and was tortured alongside Sambhaji. It is said that Aurangzeb celebrated the capture of Sambhaji and Kavi Kalash so much that he got down from his throne. Taking that opportunity, Kavi Kalash made an impromptu poem:

यावन रावन की सभा संभू बंन्ध्यो बजरंग।

लहू लसत सिंदूर सम खूब खेल्यो रनरंग॥

ज्यो रबि छबि लखतही नथीत होत बदरंग।

त्यो तव तेज निहारके तखत त्यजो अवरंग॥

which translates to:

Sambhaji (maharaj) has been tied like Hanuman in the court of Raavan (i.e., Aurangzeb)

Maharaj looking red because of wounds and blood from the great war he fought

The way fireflies lose their glow after sunrise,

Seeing your effulgence, Aurangzeb (also lost his glow and) gave up his throne.

Listening to the poem enraged Aurangzeb. He ordered Kavi Kalash's tongue be cut/plucked.