राजा शिवाजी ऐंथम – छत्रपति

"Raja Shivaji Anthem – Chhatrapati," composed by the powerhouse duo Ajay-Atul and sung by Ajay Gogavale with the film's lead pair Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh on chorus, is the six-minute ceremonial opening to Riteish Deshmukh's 2026 historical epic Raja Shivaji. Released on April 14, 2026 to coincide with the film's promotional campaign under Warner Music India and Desh Music, the anthem blends Marathi folk chants, war percussion, and sweeping orchestral arrangements to announce the arrival of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in contemporary cinema. Lyricist Manoj Muntashir wrote the Hindi version, while Vivek Aapte penned the Marathi original. At 6:04, it is a rare commercial anthem of genuine grandeur, praised by critics for its authentic respect for historical legacy.

Ajay-Atul built the anthem in layers: the opening two minutes move through a Sanskrit shloka-like invocation with shehnai and gentle tabla, before the dhol-tasha ensemble (the iconic percussion of Ganesh festivals and Maratha celebrations) takes over. The middle section features Ajay Gogavale's voice at its most commanding, climbing up a pentatonic martial scale before the full orchestra — strings, brass, choir — swells to a climax. Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh add personal warmth to the choral sections, transforming a state anthem into a family offering. The production at 6:04 is unusually long for a commercial release, reflecting Ajay-Atul's confidence in the material.

Manoj Muntashir's Hindi lyrics draw on the imagery of the saffron flag (भगवा ध्वज), the tiger (वाघनखे) and the unbreakable oath of Hindavi Swarajya. The Marathi original by Vivek Aapte uses more local idiom — references to the Sahyadri hills and the thunder of Maharashtra. Together they form a bilingual hymn that honours Shivaji as both a historical figure and a living cultural ideal.

Riteish Deshmukh spent over a decade developing the Raja Shivaji project, and the anthem was the first song he conceived — a musical manifesto for what the film would attempt. Ajay-Atul, who have deep roots in Marathi folk tradition (they are from Pune), accepted the challenge with the condition that the anthem would not be sanitised for commercial palatability. The result was six minutes that critics described as the most authentic musical tribute to Shivaji in contemporary Hindi film. Released on April 14, 2026 — coinciding with Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti — the anthem accumulated over 20 million YouTube views before the film's May 1 Maharashtra Day release.

Released as part of a ₹110 crore box-office blockbuster — the highest-grossing Marathi-language film of all time — this anthem immediately entered the cultural repertoire of Maharashtra Day celebrations. Teachers' groups across Maharashtra reportedly used it in school assemblies, and it was played at the official Maharashtra government function on May 1, 2026. It is already considered a landmark in the Ajay-Atul discography.