The film script was created by Kavaleridze based on the poem "Haydamaky", written in 1839-1841, by Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko.
The film was fully prepared as early as 1931, although it was released only in 1933. After much debate between its creator Ivan Kavaleridze and the Soviet leadership, the premiere took place two years later on October 22, 1933 in Moscow.