Chhaava Review: The Untold Story of Sambhaji’s Fight Against Aurangzeb – A Cinematic Masterpiece

Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Vineet Kumar Singh, Diana Penty and others

Runtime: 161 minutes

Release Date: February 14, 2025

Available on: Theatrical release

Chhaava review: Chhaava is a fascinating historical action drama that brings to the fore the bravery of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky Kaushal. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film is based on the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant and follows the life and rule of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj from 1680 to 1689, an era dominated by his constant fights against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The film also has Rashmika Mandanna playing Maharani Yesubai and Akshaye Khanna playing the powerful Aurangzeb.

Chhaava Review: A Historical Epic

The story begins in 1680, following the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a moment of great relief for Aurangzeb and his Mughal court, who view his passing as an opportunity to conquer the Deccan. However, they are blindsided when Sambhaji, Shivaji’s fearless son, strikes at Burhanpur, looting the Mughal treasury. This bold move ignites a ruthless war, and while Sambhaji is gearing up for the inevitable counterattack, political machinations within his own ranks benefit Aurangzeb in his pursuit of control. This is a story of betrayal, pride, and unflinching determination.

Chhaava Review: The Hero’s Journey: Strengths and Shortcomings

Although the movie begins with a high-octane action sequence, it loses some pace as the narrative progresses. A few moments suggest internal conflict within the Maratha empire, but these aspects are not developed sufficiently. Laxman Utekar’s direction is strong in making an engaging action movie but weak in completely bringing out the nuances of Sambhaji’s character.

Chhaava Review: Exploring Sambhaji's Character

The narrative focuses heavily on Sambhaji as a warrior but overlooks other facets of his remarkable personality. The film misses the opportunity to depict the bond between father and son—how Shivaji’s legacy shaped Sambhaji not only as a warrior but also as a good poet, scholar, administrator, and linguist. He was conversant in various languages, such as Braj Bhasha, Sanskrit, Persian, and even English, but these dimensions of his versatile personality are hardly recognized. Sambhaji was not only a lion-hearted warrior but also an intellectual and diplomat, skilled at outmaneuvering his competitors even within his own family to preserve his right to the throne.

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The movie does not hesitate to show the gruesome torture of Sambhaji, giving the audience a raw glimpse of the gruesome events that led to his last days. His courage in the face of Aurangzeb’s pardon offer is a highlight, with the audience clapping for him. Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Sambhaji is a tour de force. The actor completely commits to the character, revealing both the raw physicality of the character and glimmers of his softer, gentler moments as a husband and father. But these are brief moments, and the majority of the focus is on his warrior aspect. Kaushal’s dedication to the character is clear in every scene, from the intense action sequences to the times of vulnerability.

Chhaava Review: Supporting Cast of Chhaava

Rashmika Mandanna brings a sense of grace and dignity to her role as Yesubai, Sambhaji’s devoted wife. Her subtle performance, particularly in her tender moments with Sambhaji, reflects a profound emotional bond. However, it seems that her voice may have been dubbed by another actor.

Akshaye Khanna, obscured by layers of prosthetics, presents a cold and calculating interpretation of Aurangzeb. While his performance remains consistent, the character’s habit of executing messengers becomes increasingly ridiculous, unintentionally leaning towards the comical.

Vineet Kumar Singh stands out as Kavi Kalash, infusing his character with depth as a loyal friend. Diana Penty, as Aurangzeb’s daughter, is depicted as a sadistic figure, commanding the torture of Sambhaji in a manner that inadvertently evokes the themes of a bondage-themed film.

Ashutosh Rana gives a strong performance as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite. Divya Dutta’s portrayal of the scheming Soyarabai, Shivaji’s second wife, feels underdeveloped, with the political intrigue taking a backseat to the action.

Technical Aspects

Action choreography in Chhaava is superb and executed creatively, while cinematography by Saurabh Goswami captures the battles in all their grandeur. The second half is edited at a faster clip by Manish Pradhan, presenting an unstoppable string of action that holds audiences in its grip.

AR Rahman’s background score is generally impeccable, but the presence of electric guitar during intense sequences, akin to Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, does not belong in a period film. A culturally more attuned score, incorporating Indian music and instruments, would have been more appropriate to the setting of the film.

Audience Reactions

“#OneWordReview. #Chhaava: SPECTACULAR. Rating: 4 and a half. Mixes history, emotions, passion, patriotism, and action with ease. #VickyKaushal is superb, reinforcing his position as one of the great actors of his era. #LaxmanUtekar excels as a storyteller.” Showering more love upon Vicky Kaushal, he mentioned, “Vicky Kaushal gives a towering, award-winning performance as #ChhatrapatiSambhajiMaharaj. His authoritative presence, scorching intensity, fiery dialogues, and emotive moments raise the film to an altogether different level. The confrontation scenes with #AkshayeKhanna are ace moments, and the lead-up action sequence is nothing less than exemplary.”

Some of the viewers were of the opinion that the movie is slow in the first half but the second half is good. One of them stated, “Saw #Chhaava but did not enjoy it as much as expected. Film picks up pace after interval. @vickykaushal09 has given a great performance. @iamRashmika nd #AkshayeKhanna’s performance is mediocre. @DianaPenty is looking very beautiful in the film. #ChhaavaReview Rating – 3 Star”

A review did however propose, “First Review #Chhaava : Loud & Irritating! #VickyKaushal looking Disaster in movie. He is looking so Ugly Damn! Full on Maa Behan with the historical script! They completely ruined the history! Overall Below average film! VFX totally horrible ????. Go & enjoy #SanamTeriKasam.”

Another person stated, “Today we have seen movie #Chhaava at Censor Board office and it’s wastage of time and energy. It’s a good Marathi movie, but it’s unrelated to the Hindi audience. Director copied few scenes from all these movies like #Tanhaji #Panipat and #BajiraoMastani in order to prepare this movie. 1 from us.”

Chhaava succeeds in delivering a high-intensity action film, anchored by Vicky Kaushal’s powerhouse performance.However, it falls short in fully capturing the complexities of Sambhaji’s character, leaving much of his multifaceted legacy unexplored. The film is a stirring tribute to the warrior king, but it could have delved deeper into the man behind the legend.

Flawed as it is, Chhaava is a worthy attempt to put an essential part of Indian history on the big screen. It is a reminder of the courage and fortitude of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and a visual treat for fans of action movies. As the movie continues to break box office records, it will be intriguing to see how the audience continues to react to this depiction of one of India’s greatest war kings.