New Delhi: Belawadi Mallamma, also known as Mallamma Desai, was a 17th-century queen and warrior from the principality of Belawadi (Belavadi) in present-day Karnataka. She is remembered for her courage, military leadership, and resistance against the Maratha forces led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during his southern campaign in 1678.

In Rishab Shetty starrer The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bhumi Pednekar will essay the role of warrior queen Belawadi Mallamma.

Little is known about Mallamma’s early life, and contemporary historical records provide few details about her birth or upbringing. She belonged to the ruling Desai family of Belawadi and became queen through her marriage to Ishaprabhu Desai, the local ruler.

In 1678, a dispute between Maratha troops and Belawadi escalated into a military confrontation. After Ishaprabhu Desai was killed in battle, Mallamma assumed command of the kingdom’s defenses.

She led the defense of Belawadi Fort, rallying her troops against the Maratha army. Although her forces were eventually defeated, her determination and battlefield leadership earned widespread admiration.

According to several historical accounts and regional traditions, Shivaji Maharaj was impressed by Mallamma’s bravery. After the conflict, he is said to have treated her with respect and restored her estates or kingdom. While the broad outline of this episode is widely accepted in regional history, historians differ on some of the finer details.

Belawadi Mallamma is celebrated in Karnataka as one of the state’s notable warrior queens. She symbolizes:

Her story is commemorated in Kannada literature, folklore, plays, and local history, where she is remembered as a heroine who defended her kingdom with exceptional valor.

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