Chhaava Movie Review: Vicky Kaushal Roars as Sambhaji Maharaj in a High-Octane Historical Epic

Chhaava Movie Review: Vicky Kaushal Roars as Sambhaji Maharaj in a High-Octane Historical Epic - Filmsandfacts

Director: Laxman Utekar

Date Created: 2025-02-14 11:14

Editor's Rating:
3.5

Pros

• Vicky Kaushal’s Outstanding Performance – His portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj is intense, fierce, and commanding.
• Epic Battle Sequences – The action choreography, especially in the climax, is visually striking.
• Authentic Period Setting – The film beautifully recreates the Maratha era with grand sets and costumes.
• Powerful Second Half – The movie picks up momentum, delivering emotionally charged and thrilling moments.
• Memorable Climax – The finale is one of Bollywood’s best historical battle sequences.

Cons

• Weak First Half – The slow pacing and lack of tension make the early parts feel underwhelming.
• Overreliance on AR Rahman’s Music – While Aaya Re Toofan is a standout, the overall soundtrack feels misplaced.
• Underdeveloped Female Characters – Key figures like Maharani Soyarabai and Yesubai are sidelined.
• Inconsistent Narrative Flow – The film struggles with pacing and doesn’t fully capitalize on its strong historical plot.
• Modern Elements in Period Drama – Some dialogues and songs feel out of place for the time period.

Chhaava Movie Review

The Mughals felt better after the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the powerful leader who built and ruled the Maratha kingdom to its unbeaten glory. When they went to face Shivaji’s brave son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to grow their kingdom in the Deccan, they had no idea they were going into the tiger’s den.

Chhaava (lion’s cub), which is based on Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel, tries to show how brave Shambhu Raje (Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky Kaushal) was in a way that most history books haven’t been able to. Akon, who plays Aurangzeb, betrayed Shivaji’s son, caught him, and brutally killed him. But there’s more to him than that. People who were against him feared him and his people respected him during the nine years he ruled as Maratha king.

The movie shows why Sambhaji and Sersenapati Hambirrao Mohite (played by Ashutosh Rana), who had just lost their father, attacked the Mughal capital of Burhanpur without being seen. After that, Sambhaji got in the way of the Mughals’ plans to expand for nine years, making him a pain for them. Even though his own people betrayed him, Sambhaji was strong enough to survive until he was caught in Sangameshwar. His brutal death couldn’t take away his desire to fight for Swaraj and be a fighter.

The huge scale of director Laxman Utekar’s history film gives it the out-of-this-world feel it needs. The movie starts off with a big slowmo and a lot of promise, but it quickly falls into a state of stillness that looks like a movie trailer. You miss that stress or feeling of unease about what’s going to happen.

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The story is driven by AR Rahman’s songs and background score, which are more important than the conversation and story. ‘Aaya re toofan’ (war cry), by the famous composer, is a winner with its classic Maharashtrian Nashik Dhol Tasha. But the other songs don’t go with the movie’s setting or theme. The romantic number “Jaane Tu” is lovely on its own, but it sounds way too modern for the time period when it’s used in a movie. You often wonder if Ajay Atul would have been a better choice for this story.

The heart of the movie is in the second half, which is also where Chhaava really goes exciting. The story picks up speed, makes you feel things, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the amazing ending, where Sambhaji fights the Mughals by himself. “Sher ka baccha nahi bhaag jata kuch ke pillon se.” The writing brings out the dark and sassy mood. The fight scenes are well planned and carried out. The last part of the movie was beautifully shot and should be seen in a theatre.

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Last but not least, the movie is Vicky Kaushal’s, and it’s safe to say that he has given this role his blood, sweat, and tears. He lets out his anger, lets his rudra character take over, and roars like a tiger in every scene, getting your full attention.

There is no one else who could have done a better job than him with this speech. It works for Akshaye Khanna and his one-liners. I like how subdued he is, even though his makeup and prosthetics are very heavy. The actor Vineet Kumar Singh would be a great choice to play Kavi Kalash. Some of the best parts of the movie are when he talks to Vicky.

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The women don’t have as much TV time. Divya Dutta, who plays Maharani Soyarabai, is incredibly skilled and should have had a bigger part. Rashmika Mandanna has the right looks, but she has trouble with her speech, language, and feelings. Diana Penty turns out to be the biggest let down. She doesn’t have much to say, but when she does, her blank face takes your attention away from the most intense scenes.

The great thing about Chhaava is its amazing ending, which is one of the best in Bollywood historical epics. Vicky Kaushal is stunning because he lives up to Sambhaji Maharaj’s bravery and love for swaraj like it’s second nature to him. You just wish the movie focused more on its strong plot and less on Rahman’s music, which doesn’t really fit.

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