Chhaava movie review: Vicky Kaushal Roars Thunderously As The Mard Maratha In A Swashbuckling Spectacle

Chhaava review

The Mard Maratha makes a swash buckling return to the Bollywood big screen after five years, in 2020 we had Om Raut ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ starring Ajay Devgn. ‘Chhaava’ a muscular and bloody battle picture, a compelling drama that revives the great Maratha glory, and a truly transporting trip back nearly three hundred and thirty-six years. Laxman Utekar’s epic of imperial heroism brings new luster and excitement to a genre that is more than eight decades old – Sorab Modi’s Sikander (1941) that starred Prithviraj Kapoor (looked very much like Shashi Kapoor to me when I watched it on DD for the first time as a kid) as Alexander and the great Sorab Modi as King Porus. The genre had recently provided some cherished memories, the latest being – Ranveer Singh as Khilji in Padmavat and now Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji Maharaj but the question is why the Lion is still left untouched. Why not a full-fledged mega budget film on the founder of the great Maratha Empire – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and funds doesn’t seem to be a problem for Maddock nowadays. But without any iota of doubt ‘Chhaava’ will make Vicky Kaushal massier and more popular star at least in the western circuit- Mumbai Maharashtra region.

Ancient historical/ war spectacle represented one of the mainstays of world and Indian cinema. The last of the Bollywood on screen great Maratha glory - ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ rightly earned the accolades at the respectable National Awards but still the projection of Saif Ali Khan as Udaybhan Singh Rathore though he did a fantabulous job was not proper. Thankfully in Laxman Utekar’s ‘Chhaava’ the projection of Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb is better in comparison.

In treatment, look and feel, though Redefine does a very average job in its VFX and music maestro AR Rehman seem to be out sync completely, ‘Chhaava’ is backed by Saurabh Goswami’s magnificent cinematography, Parvez Shaikh and Todor Lazaroy’s superb action which at times gets a bit barbaric, Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray’s solidly detailed and brilliant production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s royal costumes. Preetisheel Singh D’souza’s prosthetics is outstanding.

The movie begins with the news of the demise of the pioneer of the Maratha empire – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and just when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb feels that the Maratha kingdom is now in his grab, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj attacks Burhanpur, the swashbuckling action sets the pace of a great hero, a “real man” the ‘Mard Maratha who will inspire both male and female viewers.

 ‘Chhaava’ with its fast flurries of action and jump cuts, emphasizes the ferocious nature and brutality at times. The movie enjoys a solid foundation in the strength of the lead character Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj revealing both the glory and the horror (the Mughal atrocities and the torture). Dialogues by Rishi Virmani and Irshad Kamil are clap worthy. The last 30 mins in one word – terrific.     

Performances

Vicky Kaushal in his best massy avatar and he roars like a fearsome lion. His Marathi diction is commendable and he looks completely convincing when he keeps tearing apart the mighty Mughals.

Akshaye Khanna is brilliant in his own unique nuances as Aurangzeb.

Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai looks very beautiful and makes her mark.

Unfortunately, Diana Penty as (Zeenat) has nothing much to do.

While Divya Dutta (Soyrabai) is fine in whatever scope she gets.

Ashutosh Rana as (Hambir Rao) is striking, he is a great actor but his superb Hindi diction becomes a hurdle over here.

But the major surprise after Vicky Kaushal’s brilliance is Vineet Kumar Singh as Kavi Kalash. He steals the show in couple of scenes. Neil Bhoopalam on the other hand is quite good as Akbar – Aurangzeb’s rebel son.

Chhaava review – final words

‘Chhaava’ is bound to boost the career prospects and following of Vicky Kaushal in big way, Laxman Utekar’s class direction and magnificent production values, mind blowing action and a historical figure which is loved, adored and admired in Maharashtra – Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj all enhanced in size and spectacle and is well modulated in a two hour forty-one-minute picture.

Going with four stars and extra for Vicky Kaushal

‘Chhaava’ - an adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant. Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, Chhaava is running in theatres from today – February 14, 2025.