Star Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Rashmika Mandanna
Director: Laxman Utekar
Chhaava Movie Review Synopsis:
CHHAVA is the story of a brave hero. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passes away in 1680. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna) and his members of the court are relieved that their biggest enemy is no more. They now dream of capturing the Deccan region. They get the shock of their life when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (Vicky Kaushal), the brave son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, attacks Burhanpur and loots the treasury. Aurangzeb swears revenge. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj knows that Aurangzeb will retaliate and hence, makes arrangements. But unknown to him, the politics within the family also make things easier for Aurangzeb to defeat the Maharaj. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Chhaava Movie Story Review:
CHAAVA is based on the book of the same name by Shivaji Sawant. Laxman Utekar, Rishi Virmani, Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan’s story is neatly adapted into film format. Laxman Utekar, Rishi Virmani, Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan’s screenplay is engaging. It is a bit dry in the first half but gets very engaging post-interval. Rishi Virmani’s dialogues are powerful and also clap-worthy in some scenes.
Laxman Utekar’s direction is splendid. We have seen him execute mid-sized films like LUKA CHUPPI [2019], MIMI [2021] and ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE [2024]. This is his grandest film yet and he handles it with a pro. The focus is not just on action but also on family conflicts. It adds a nice touch to the goings-on. The entry of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is outstanding and sets the mood of the film. Aurangzeb’s Burhanpur visit is another stunning sequence. One scene that stands out in the first half is the meeting of Maharaj with Akbar (Neil Bhoopalam). Post-interval, the comeback by the Maratha army makes for an exciting watch. But the best is reserved for the pre-climax. The manner in which Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj fights the Mughal army at Sangameshwar is seen to be believed.
On the flip side, the first half is a bit lengthy and devoid of the action that one would expect from a film like this. The music score is okay. Thirdly, it becomes difficult to remember the names of the Maratha armymen. In fact, when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj learns of the demise of someone from his army in the second half, it takes viewers a while to realize who actually died. Lastly, the climax is disturbing and not for all kinds of audience.
Chhaava | Official Trailer | Vicky Kaushal | Rashmika Mandanna | Akshaye Khanna | Dinesh Vijan | Laxman Utekar
Chhaava Movie Review Performances:
Vicky Kaushal roars with his performance like never before. He gets into skin of his character and looks very convincing when he fights hundreds of people single handedly. His dialogue delivery is also powerful. Akshaye Khanna also delivers a performance to watch out for. His cold stares enhance his act to another level. Rashmika Mandanna makes her presence felt. She has a small but important role in the film. Ashutosh Rana (Hambir Rao) is dependable as always. The same applies to Diana Penty (Zeenat). Divya Dutta (Soyrabai) is too good but sadly, has limited screen time. Vineet Kumar Singh (Kavi Kalash) is the surprise of the film while Neil Bhoopalam rocks in an extended cameo. Others also do well.
Chhaava movie music and other technical aspects:
A R Rahman’s music is okay. ‘Aaye Re Toofaan’ stands out while ‘Jaane Tu’ and ‘Zinda Rahey’ are soulful. Sadly, the songs won’t have a long shelf life. A R Rahman’s background score, however, is out of the world. Many scenes get better thanks to the BGM.
Saurabh Goswami’s cinematography is spectacular. Parvez Shaikh and Todor Lazaroy’s action is cinematic but also very disturbing. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray’s production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s costumes are royal and well-researched. Preetisheel Singh D’souza’s prosthetics deserves special mention, especially for Akshaye Khanna. Redefine’s VFX and Manish Pradhan’s editing could have been better.
Chhaava Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CHHAAVA is a gripping historical spectacle that not only pays a fitting tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj but also enthrals with its powerful storytelling, breathtaking battle sequences, grand visuals and stellar performances. Vicky Kaushal, in particular, delivers one of his career-best acts, while Laxman Utekar proves his versatility yet again. At the box office, the film has the potential to emerge as a strong performer, driven by its patriotic fervour, critical acclaim, and audience appreciation. A cinematic experience that deserves to be witnessed on the big screen!