There is a lot of hungama going on around Gautami Putra movie. As a movie it is beyond doubt, but one cannot claim this as a depiction of history and specifically relating it to Telangana and Andhra.
Gautami Putra Satakarni has ample fiction in the storyline. It is reported that the King did not respect the women as depicted in the movie and he respected the higher castes only. The un-touchability and caste system continued and king did not bother to stop them.
One cannot claim this story as Original History. There is no doubt that the story line has been altered to suit the present day scenario apart from the image of Balakrishna the hero.
The fight between Demetrius and Satakarni depicted in the film’s climax is not correct it is reported. Demetrius was the first to invade India around 200 BC after Alexander. There is a gap of almost two centuries between Demetrius and Satakarni according to the evidence that is available.
Showing Amaravathi as the capital of Satavahanas is also questionable. While their place of origin is still debatable, they had a brief presence in Telangana and Andhra regions before shifting their base from Amaravathi to Prathisthan in Maharashtra .
There are social and cultural issues, too. A group of historians take exception to acknowledging the greatness of the Satavahanas as they represented oppression in the name of caste.
A Nasik inscription of Guatami Balasri, mother of Satakarni, says “he promoted the interests of the twice-born and stopped the mixing of the four varnas.”
Krish took cinematic liberties to show Satakarni’s respect for his mother or women in general and he continued the image of Legend for Balaiah Babu. But the king then neither did he stop the evil practice of Sati nor did he improve the conditions of women and untouchables
All this is just to draw a line between history and fiction, not to underplay a film that is fine for viewing. But the filmmakers cannot claim it as history. Krish has used the sentiment of Andhra and Telangana to promote the movie. He has convinced the CMs of AP and TS along with a Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu for the indirect promotion.
It all worked and the movie is a great hit. As cinema it worked and as history it failed.
