Chhaava Movie Review: On the Whole, Chhaava Is A Cinematic Experience Which Witnessed On The Big Screen
Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandana, Akshay Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Diana Panty Starr’s latest film Chhaava is released in theaters on 14 February. Chhaava, made under the direction of Director Laxman Utekar, introduces the audience to the intense and entertaining life of Maratha Raja Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal is seen in the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Chhaava. At the same time, Rashmika Mandana appears in the role of Queen Yesubai and Akshay Khanna Mughal in the role of Shahanshah Aurangzeb. In 2018, Karan Johar announced a film named ‘Takht’. It was a historical drama film, which was going to tell the story of Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh. Vicky Kaushal was going to play the role of Aurangzeb in this film with a huge star cast. However, after the pandemic, the film was stopped for budget-related reasons. 7 years after this incident, a film was released, named Chhaava. It is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The villain of this film is Aurangzeb.
We have read a complete syllabus about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in history, but we do not get to read much about Magar his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Director Lakshman Utekar’s film Chhaava depicts the knight of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which led to his name Chhaava (lion child). He plagued the Shahanshah Aurangzeb of the Mughal Sultanate for a full nine years. He, on one of whose roars, Maratha united to give iron to the Mughalia Sultanate. The story of Laxman’s film is based on Marathi’s well-known novelist Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel Chhaava. Who does not know the story of Shivaji Maharaj, the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire? Shivaji had hit the Mughals hard. After his death, his loved ones as well as enemies mourned his departure. When it was thought that none of Shivaji’s Marathas remained, his son Sambhaji Maharaj commanded the Maratha Empire and had given the Muggle ruler Aurangzeb a nose. The story of the same heroic Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is now brought together by Vicky Kaushal, Director Laxman Utekar, and Producer Dinesh Vijan.
Chhaava Movie Review: The Story Plot
The film begins with the voice of Ajay Devgan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has passed away in the story and Aurangzeb, the emperor of the Mughal Empire, feels that there is no one left to beat him in the Deccan. He will now be able to rule the Marathas with an umbrella. But he was not even aware that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj‘s twenty-four-year-old Nirbhaya and Jambaz son Sanbhaji Urf Chhaava (Vicki’s skill) is cut to pursue his father’s dream of Swaraj. Sambhaji’s wife (Rashmika Mandana) also stands with him to fulfill this dream of his brave king. Sambhaji along with his commander, Sir Lashkar aka Hambirao Mohite (Ashutosh Rana), and brave soldiers invaded Burhanpur, the important stronghold of the Sultanate of Aurangzeb. The Mughal Sal Tanat reminds the milk of VI, the army of Maratha Veers. Only then does Aurangzeb, his daughter (Diana Panty), and the giant army of Mughals discover the might of Sanbhaji. After this first victory, Sanbhaji and his great mighty army attacked various strongholds of the Sultanate of Aurangzeb for a full nine years and restored his strategy.
Now Sanbhaji had become a thorn for Aurangzeb, which he had not been able to remove despite all his diplomatic tricks. Magar is then tricked by the lion’s roar-like fearless and wind-like agile Mahavir Sanbhaji’s loved ones. Aurangzeb, his arch-enemy ambushed Sangameshwar and imprisoned him. Will Chhaava give up on his enemy after the physical tortures that have given all the soul to Aurangzeb? To know this, you have to watch the film. Chhaava‘s story is related to the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film shows how Sanbhaji plagued Maharaj Aurangzeb after Shivaji’s death. Aurangzeb’s only goal is to capture Sanbhaji. In this way, Sanbhaji fights his war and leaves no stone unturned to answer Aurangzeb, which starts with Burhanpur. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj‘s stories of valor are recorded in the pages of history, but Laxman Utekar has made a film in which Sambhaji has valor, but there are no reasons that can connect the viewer to him. Then many scenes in the film seem to be seen from many other films. Whether Divya Dutt’s hand is extinguished or tearing the ground the warriors get out. The story does not make connections, the rest of the characters are not even established.
Chhaava Movie Review and Analysis
Lakshman Ute, the director of films like ‘Zara Hatke Jara Bachke’, ‘Mimi’ and Luka Chuppi, speaks of an untold historical period that has been covered in a few sentences in history. However, Thakuranup Singh’s Marathi film ‘Dharmasad Mahavira Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj‘ based on the recent book ‘Life and Death of Sambhaji Maharaj’ was also very popular. The ‘Chewa’ also moves along the same lines, with Magar Laxman rising and decorating this historical plot on a huge canvas. The first battle scene of the film sets its mood. At the same time, it is established what a wonderful aggressive warrior the fearless and fearless Chhaava is. The film takes time to establish Chhaava, his valor, and the characters in the first part, the story becomes thrilling in the second part. Although the director’s entire emphasis has been on showing Chhaava‘s bravery, this is why not much work has been done on Chhaava‘s backstory and that is why the film lacks a convincing story. Yes, all the action sequences of the film are Janad, luxurious, and stylish, whose choreography is worthy of praise.
The gorilla technique with which the small army of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj delivers the army of Aurangzeb is worth watching. Climax’s war sequence is the life of the film, in which Sanbhaji does not kneel despite the torture. The film also features whistleblowers like ‘We do not make noise, we do direct hunting’. Adorned with the music of AR Rahman, this film is according to the theme ‘Aya Ray Storm’, but there is a song like ‘Jane Tu’ which seems strange according to that era. The background score supported the film a lot. Laxman himself is a controlling cinematographer, yet he has entrusted the responsibility of cinematography to Saurabh Goswami and has to admit that his camerawork enriches the film.
In terms of acting, if it is said that Vick’s skill has pushed everything to bring this historical character to life on screen, it would not be wrong. Wick’s skills have received a great opening in his career and a climax scene, in which he has proved unmatched. They have been brought alive on the screen by a lion-roaring knight. Unk Junoon looks clearly toward Swaraj. This will be called the best performance of his career. Akshay Khanna has also done wonders as Chhaava’s permanent enemy Aurangzeb. Akshay’s oneliners, gestures, and prosthetic makeup make her role memorable. While Ashutosh Rana has lived the role of Sir Lashkar very effectively, the character of Vineet Kumar in the role of Kavita Kalash touches the heart. Female letters do not get much space in the film. Competent actresses like Divya Dutta have been moved. The heroine Rashmika Mandana is judged by her character, but her dialogue delivery strikes. But Diana Panty‘s role disappoints. Apart from four to five dialogues, there was nothing like doing on their part. The Allied cast is strong.
Vicky Kaushal has played the role of Sambhaji Maharaj in a great way. On-screen, you can see their hard work. In an interview, he said that director Laxman Utekar had asked him to look like a lion and Vicky has been very successful in this. During a sequence in the film, you will find him completely lost in his character. Amid the war here, Sambha is fighting the army of the Mughals. His companions are piled up one by one but the courage of the Sanbhaji is different. 1000 soldiers are failing to stop Sambha. Even after being fastened in fetters, people are sweating to get close to them. This scene tells you how good Vicky’s skill is. Seeing their look on the screen increases your heartbeat. Vicky’s skills touch your heart even in emotional scenes. You feel the puff inside their mind. Rashmika Mandana has tried to support Vicky in the character of Sambhaji’s wife Yeshubai. Sean is good with both. Rashmika is well into some scenes as a queen. But his accent comes in the way of his acting.
It is quite difficult to identify Akshay Khanna as Villain Aurangzeb. Akshay looks great in DA Makeup Lab’s amazing prosthetic. Along with the look, his work is also very good. When the Chhaava Sanbhaji is standing in front of the old Aurangzeb, you can see the irritation of his mind. He wants that he too as a warrior who can give such a tough fight to others. Akshay Khanna is doing his best work. His eyes bear witness to his hatred, his awe of others, and his greed to make India his own. Akshay scares you as a quiet but cruel ruler. Apart from this, the film has many good actors including Divya Dutta, Diana Panty, Anil George, and Ashutosh Rana. Although no one got much screen time. They are all good in their roles, but due to low screen time, you don’t see them doing anything amazing. Vineet Kumar Singh has done justice to her character as Sambhaji’s friend Kavi Kalash. His poetry with Sambhaji is also worth listening to. The credit goes to Irshad Kamil, who has done dialogue writing with Rishi Virmani.
Laxman Utekar has put many war sequences to put his life in the film. With these, this film takes you to the high notes. These war sequences are quite good. Their choreography, bloodshed, and ruthlessness affect everything. However, after some time, you start getting tired. It shows the grandeur of that time through large and beautiful sets. But still, there seems to be some deficiency somewhere. Editing is the biggest problem in the film. Its speed is loose, due to which you feel that you have been sitting in the theater for centuries. There is a lot of dialogue in the picture. But there will hardly be any dialogue, which you remember later. After the loose first half, the actionable second half arouses interest in your mind. Picture music is not very special, but its background score makes your experience good. It has torture scenes, which will force you to look the other way. If you have problems with scenes like Kharaba, and Markat, then you should go to see Chhaava only by making sure.
The eagerness to watch the film Chhaava may differ from the opinion of every viewer on what may happen in an audience. Caution is to use it here that you should not go to see this movie with your girlfriend or boyfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. When I got out of the show at the Fun Republic in Mumbai at nine in the morning, a young woman was sitting on the bench eating gush and was angry at her partner for why she brought such a film without being told. Yes, big Jirga should keep watching this film till the end. The reason for the people of Maharashtra to watch the film is that it is the story of Sanbhaji, the son of his Pujya Shivaji. The choice to see the biopic of Sanbhaji, famous as Shambhu Raje, is the highest in Maharashtra, it shows the figures of its booking.
In Marathi, the lion’s child is called Chhaava. If you have read the mythological novels ‘Niranjaya’ and ‘Yugandhar’ written by Shivaji Sawant, you will be conscious that he has mastered his narrative solution. In such a situation, how much of his narrative remained in this film on the historical novel Chhaava, how many filmmakers linked their imagination according to Disclaimer, and how many of its facts are correct, there is no one to tell. Sanbhaji is shown fighting throughout the film. He does not commit any power in killing and disguise to fight is also very changing. Aurangzeb has left Delhi to catch Sanbhaji. Sanbhaji got the throne of Raigarh after Shivaji went to Shivlok. This is the film on the nine-year life of Sanbhaji and Aurangzeb. This story from the period from 1680 to 1689 is sad and more gruesome than sad.
Yes, think twice before watching this movie with your children and the women of the house. After showing the heroic and rough form of the lead actor Vicky Kaushal throughout the film, the film comes to the climax and creates some of the same gruesome juices, such as hanging Jesus Christ on the cross in the film ‘Passion of Christ. At the time of the torture of mole, it was made on screen. Aurangzeb is called to the bar here in the name of Aurang to insult him. His son Akbar is shown to have repeatedly pleaded for the help of Sanbhaji. He also wants to support Sambhaji in raising the flag of Swaraj. Aurangzeb, who killed his father Shahanshah in captivity, is the snag of his way. There is more Jalim than daughter Aurangzeb who enjoys torturing and killing the imprisoned Sanbhaji. The climax of the film tells two more things. First of all, life is as much as we want to live and live gracefully. There is a good death in front of someone on their knees. Then Aurangzeb’s daughter says, he went away celebrating his death and left us to mourn his life.
Secondly, both the brothers of Sambhaji’s wife came out as traitors, and not only these two brothers, but all the Subedars of the Maratha Empire also cheated on Sambhaji. The third thing that very few people know is that Shivaji got married second. And, his second wife, Soyrabai, somehow wanted to see Sanbhaji’s elimination and for this, he had written a letter to Aurangzeb. The film Chhaava will be mentioned in every discussion when it comes to acting like Vicky Kaushal. Vicky’s passion for historical characterization and for which he completely changes his body, his color form, has been taken advantage of this time by director Laxman Utekar, whose name in the film Laxman Ramachandra as Utekar comes on screen. Vicky Kaushal has killed Sambhaji’s character in the same way he has done in the biopic on Sardar Udham Singh and Sam Manakshaw before. Another national award may be deposited in his account from this film, but simply, what is in the film is the same. And the film Chhaava is made on the main points where Sambhaji is shown warring. Sambhaji, when not fighting, either dreams of the horror of his childhood or appears to have a conversation with Mr. and Sakhi Sri with his wife Yesubai.
Rashmika Mandana plays a Maratha Maharani Yesubai in the film Chhaava. She is now becoming a permanent company of violent men. ‘Pushpa’, ‘Animal’, ‘Pushpa 2’, and now Chhaava. His responsible work here is to take off the Aarti of the king returned from the war, if he is going to war, to rhyme something, to vaccinate him black, and to produce compassion juice in the audience with dubbed eyes. Yes, a scene where he also got to order Aurangzeb’s army to interrupt the supply of logistics, but that’s all. Divya Dutta‘s character is more aware of him in the film. Shivaji’s second wife Soyrabai Bani Divya is desperate to make her son a chef. Sambhaji goes to the last war and touches his feet and takes blessings and wishes to fulfill his every wish with dubbed eyes. This is where the climax begins to be woven, Just as Aurangzeb weaves some of the wool trapped in the crotchety until half the film, and then, either the wool runs out or his crotchety weaving silica art department loses somewhere.
Vineet Singh has done the best job as an assistant cast in the film. He is the court poet of Sambhaji here. The lines are written by Irshad Kamil. Vinit Singh, who became the poet Kalash, also fought the war in the climax and remained the second Maratha besides the same Sanbhaji who went to Aurangzeb’s captivity. Kavai’s match between Sambhaji and Kalash is not attractive, and during this time, both of them are strangled and screaming making it very uncomfortable to watch the film. Ashutosh Rana did not get a character like his Damkham. Even after being in the rank of commander, he did not appear to do any view structure. Diana Panty is placed with Akshay Khanna just to balance the frame. And, Akshay Khanna has collected a lot of color with facial wrinkles made of prosthetics and a mark of namaz reading on the forehead. This experiment may bring a new twist in meeting the shortage of strong villains in Hindi cinema.
Its lateral music has a huge contribution to making the film uncomfortable. It seems as if a young man has taken stock of music and made a background score for the entire film. The magic of AR Rahman has begun to descend. Even the song has not been made of Arce in that manner. The only reason to watch the film Chhaava is that it has a bonus in the work of Akshay Khanna, a brilliant artwork of Vicky’s skills. The cinematography of the rest of the film is weak, the production design work is so poor that the patches of the set look clean. Action choreography has improved due to copying a little film ‘300’ by coming to the climax, otherwise, the same as ‘Ramayana’ by Ramayana Sagar and ‘Mahabharata’ by BR Chopra She continued the film will be seen by the elite, the climax is long and, in the meantime, if you are nervous, do not come out and forget to eat the air.
In the middle of this opening sequence, the makers used a reference similar to ‘Schindler’s List’. While fighting the Mughal army, Chhatrapati sees a crying child. He picks him up from the battlefield and hands him over to his mother. Then for a few seconds, he keeps staring at the crying child. As if he has suddenly realized the horror and futility of war. But the very next moment, he turns around and attacks the enemies. Later, the makers connect this thing to his childhood. Which seems to be a letdown. This could have been his moment of realization, which would have shown the depth of his character. Anyway, nowadays films are made like vegetables. First, the opening sequence is ready. Then the hero enters. After that the pre-interval block. Then comes the climax. And nowadays post-credit scenes are also in a trend. The same problem is seen in Chhaava as well. After the interval, there are three-four back-to-back action sequences. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj‘s army is giving a tough time to Aurangzeb’s army. These are neatly crafted, spectacular, and stylish action pieces. They are fun to watch.
But they do not come together to make the film better. This is the most disappointing thing about this film. The second is Rashmika Mandanna. Wherever Rashmika appears on screen in this film, the film suffers. Because neither has she been able to adopt the Marathi accent, nor is her performance up to the mark. Only the things that are shouted don’t need to be correct and important. You will find an example of this in Chhaava itself. The character of Aurangzeb hardly speaks 20 words in the entire film. But no character is more serious and stronger than him. You will see that Aurangzeb is a very cruel person. He can go to any extent to expand his empire. He will kill anyone who comes in his way. Even if it is his son. We understand these things about his character from his body language and silence. He does not need to shout. Akshay Khanna has played the role of Aurangzeb. And he should be praised a lot for this. The journey from Jeetu Videocon to Aurangzeb is not easy. It shows his range as an actor.
Amidst all the flaws, Chhaava also has a redemption arc. That is the climax of the film. A glimpse of this is also seen in the film trailer. This is the last battle of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj‘s life. The makers have put in all their efforts in this war sequence. From camerawork to action and the work of the actors, everything is top-class. These are the 15-20 minutes that save the honor of the film. But the end of the film has been stretched so long that it becomes cumbersome. The second notable thing about this film is that it does not try to push any agenda. It does not degrade someone to elevate someone. In one scene, the character of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj says that his fight is not with the people of any religion. Only with those who are against his idea of ’Swaraj’. This film must have been physically difficult for Vicky Kaushal. Mentally, it does not demand anything special. We have seen better work of Vicky than this. Chhaava is the most masala film of his career.
Chhaava Movie Review: The Last Words
Salute to the valor of Sambhaji Maharaj in Chhaava. However, it has covered many flaws that are in the way of building emotional connections. Its end has been prolonged, the kind of pain and sacrifice that should have been seen is missing. There are many flaws in action. One place looks clear that the sword does not penetrate the neck but is the other side of the throat. Then in a scene, the dying warrior holds the neck crooked and holds the sword. While watching Chhaava, the question comes to Jehan this film would have been made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali… Chhaava is harmless entertainment. It tries to entertain you in bits and pieces. It succeeds at some moments. Most of the time, Chhaava remains a film from which you keep hoping for something better.
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Vineet Kumar Singh, Diana Penty
Director: Laxman Utekar
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars)
Chhaava Movie Review: On the Whole, Chhaava Is A Cinematic Experience Which Witnessed On The Big Screen - Filmyhype
Director: Laxman Utekar
Date Created: 2025-02-14 15:38
3.5
