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| Chhaava (2025) |
Shivaji Maharaj's death as the Maratha empire's founder and undefeated leader released the Mughals from their fears. Nobody anticipated walking into the tiger territory, which meant confronting Shivaji's brave son, Sambhaji Maharaj, to expand their Deccan rule.
Chhaava (lion's cub) follows Shivaji Sawant's Marathi novel to highlight Shambhu Raje's (Sambhaji Maharaj played by Vicky Kaushal) bravery, which historical writings have failed to showcase. Beyond his title as Shivaji's son who faced betrayal at the hands of his supporters and Aurangzeb's cruel killing (Akshaye Khanna) lies a deeper story. The film explains both the deep respect his subjects held for him and the great fear his rivals experienced throughout his nine-year reign as Maratha ruler.
The grief-stricken Sambhaji, alongside Sersenapati Hambirrao Mohite (portrayed by Ashutosh Rana), led an attack on Mughal-held Burhanpur territory against direct Mughal opposition. During his nine-year rule, Sambhaji continuously defied Mughal territorial growth aspirations, which made him their primary adversary. Sambhaji's courage helped him survive an attack from his own people until they captured him at Sangameshwar. Despite a brutal death by execution, Sambhaji's fighting spirit for Swaraj remained unbroken.
Director Laxman Utekar presents his historical work on a massive canvas, which creates the dramatic impact the film needs. The opening sequence creates excitement through its majestic slow-motion introduction, yet the initial part fails to maintain interest because it only shows deep respect. The presentation includes numerous action scenes and musical segments while neglecting character growth, along with world creation. When events occur in a story, you need to experience both emotional intensity and the feeling of revelation. AR Rahman's musical compositions function as the main storytelling elements, which overpower both dialogue and script in the film. The film's legendary music composer delivered a strong 'Aaya re toofan' war cry through traditional Nashik Dhol Tasha, but other songs fail to match the film's period or theme. Romantic number 'Jaane Tu' exists beautifully on its own, but creates confusion when you hear it in the film because its contemporary feel conflicts with the era. The musical combination of piano clashes with traditional paithani costume. Throughout the film, you question whether Ajay Atul's musical talents would have been more suited to this narrative.
Chhaava reaches its full potential during the second storyline segment which forms the movie's emotional core. The story accelerates at this point while maintaining perfect emotional resonance as it takes you through a gripping climax showcasing Sambhaji's solo battle against the Mughals. The dramatic tone of the story rises through these lines. The planned battles were skillfully choreographed before their execution. The movie's final sections were expertly filmed, which demands a theatrical screening experience.
Vicky Kaushal delivers his most emotionally demanding performance to date as the film's central protagonist. Through his inner fury, Vicky Kaushal allows his Rudra avatar to seize control, then roars with tiger-like power in every scene to dominate your full attention. The performance stands as his best work to date, and he delivered it flawlessly, beyond anything else that has been attempted by other actors. The one-liners delivered by Akshaye Khanna keep their impact in the film. Although his makeup and extensive prosthetics go beyond believable, he maintains a humble presence throughout the film. Vineet Kumar Singh makes a perfect selection to play Kavi Kalash in this role. Vicky's dialogue with the main character produces some of the film's most memorable scenes.
The female characters receive reduced display time throughout the film. Maharani Soyarabai's powerful presence deserves more screen time in her role, according to the talented Divya Dutta. Rashmika Mandanna portrays her role well, yet struggles to maintain both her character's language and emotional authenticity alongside proper accent delivery. Diana Penty represents the most significant letdown of the film. She only speaks a few lines, yet her unflinching acting during these moments pulls your attention away from critical moments in the story.
The film's best element emerges in its thrilling final sequence. Sambhaji Maharaj's passion for swarajya (self-rule) along with his inspiring valiance seeps from Vicky Kaushal's performance, giving the impression he was born for the role. The film would have worked better if it leaned more heavily on its story instead of letting Rahman's music take up space unnecessarily.
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