PremiumChhaava movie review: Vicky Kaushal uplifts Laxman Utekar's film with his valiant performance
Chhaava movie review: Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna's historical epic has been watched. Here's our review of the Laxman Utekar directorial, which releases on February 14, 2025.
Chhaava movie review.
Last Updated: 11.36 PM, Feb 13, 2025
Chhaava plot:
Laxman Utekar's film Chhaava follows the life story of Maratha King Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj), his rivalry with Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his battles against the Mughals.
Chhaava review:
Filmmaker Om Raut's Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, starring Ajay Devgn, was the last commercially successful and critically acclaimed historical epic in Bollywood. And with the release of Laxman Utekar's Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, the stakes are high because of its strong buzz. The director presents a historical drama on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, whose bravery tales are still remembered.
Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna's Chhaava depicts the life journey of the Maratha King from the time he took his father Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legacy forward after his demise, became Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to his battles with Mughals. The movie is majorly centered around Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's powerful and impactful attack on Burhanpur. This attack comes as a significant setback for Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb during his reign and he decides to take on the Maratha King in a fierce battle of Deccan.
What works well for Laxman Utekar's movie is its intriguing and tight narrative. The movie doesn't deviate from the plot, thereby sticking to its core purpose. But the historical epic still loses its hold and pace at several junctures, including the climax. Despite its engaging and power-packed first half, some post-interval scenes seem stretched, making the second half a slow-burner.
The significant thing about this film is Laxman Utekar's direction. It is tough to execute a movie, which is based on historical facts. However, the filmmaker has crafted the film well, keeping the story's historical significance in mind. Moreover, Ajay Devgn's narration, background score, AR Rahman's music, and breathtakingly beautiful locations elevate the film's whole mood.
The dialogues by Rishi Virmani and Irshad Kamil are hard-hitting and a major highlight of Chhaava. And while the majority of the action sequences are executed well, a few of them seem disoriented. For that matter, the transition between a couple of scenes is not smooth in the movie.
Talking about the performances, Vicky Kaushal brings his A-game to the film with his remarkable acting skills and delivers his career-best performance. His screen presence in both emotionally charged and action-packed sequences leaves an impact. Rashmika Mandanna brings her best when it comes to portraying Maharani Yesubai. She stands out in the scenes where her character makes important decisions.
As for Akshaye Khanna, his portrayal as Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb works well in bits and parts. The other members of the star cast—Vineet Kumar Singh as Kavi Kalash, Ashutosh Rana as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite, and Divya Dutta as Soyarabai—shoulder the film well.
Chhaava final verdict:
Vicky Kaushal excels with his impressive performance in Laxman Utekar's skillfully crafted film, which highlights Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's valor. Chhaava is a must-watch!