The tale of Shivaji Maharaj, the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire, is known to all. He gave the Mughals a tough fight, and after his death, both his own people and his enemies mourned his passing. When it seemed that Shivaji’s Marathas were no more, his son Sambhaji Maharaj took over the reins of the Maratha Empire and made Mughal ruler Aurangzeb bite his nails. The story of this brave Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is now being brought to the screen by Vicky Kaushal, director Lakshman Utekar, and producer Dinesh Vijan.
The film is based on a book called ‘Chhaava’ written by Shivaji Sawant. After the death of his father, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb was trying to expand his empire. At that time, Sambhaji told the Mughals that even though the lion may have left, his cub was still alive and would not let Shivaji’s dream of Swaraj die. Sambhaji Maharaj was no less than a lion, but his life and death were filled with pain. This is what director Lakshman Utekar has tried to show in the film.
The story begins with a fierce battle
The film starts with a war sequence, where you see Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for the first time. His eyes have a unique sparkle, and with his broad chest and loud voice, you see him fighting in the war. Later, you also get to see Vicky’s soft side. Sambhaji is not only a brave warrior but also an emotional person who is struggling with the pain of losing his mother and father. He searches for his mother in his dreams, but instead, he hears his father Shivaji’s voice. His father shows him the way but cannot give him the love of a mother.
Vicky Kaushal shines in Chhaava
Vicky Kaushal has played the role of Sambhaji Maharaj very well. You can see his hard work on the screen. In an interview, he said that director Lakshman Utekar had asked him to look like a lion, and Vicky has succeeded in doing so. There is a sequence in the film where you will see him completely immersed in his character. Here, Sambhaji is fighting with the Mughal army, and his comrades are falling one by one, but Sambhaji’s courage is different. 1000 soldiers are unable to stop him, and even when he is chained, people are afraid to go near him. This scene tells you how good an actor Vicky Kaushal is. Watching him on screen, your heart beats faster.
Akshay Khanna impresses as Aurangzeb
As the villainous Aurangzeb, Akshay Khanna is unrecognizable. The prosthetic makeup by Dada Make-up Lab makes him look excellent. Along with his look, his performance is also very good. When the ‘cub’ Sambhaji stands in front of the old Aurangzeb, you can see the jealousy in his mind. He wishes he had a warrior like Sambhaji who could give others a tough fight. Akshay Khanna does a great job with his eyes, which reflect his hatred, fear of others, and desire to conquer India. As a calm but cruel ruler, Akshay Khanna scares you.
The film also features many other talented actors like Divya Dutta, Diana Penty, Anil George, and Ashutosh Rana. However, none of them get much screen time. They all do justice to their roles, but due to limited screen time, you don’t get to see them do anything special. Sambhaji’s friend, Kavi Kalash, played by Vineet Kumar Singh, does justice to his character. His poetry with Sambhaji is worth listening to, thanks to the dialogues written by Irshad Kamil and Rishi Virmani.
Where the film falls short
To give the film life, Lakshman Utekar has included many war sequences. These sequences take the film to high notes, but after a while, you start to feel tired. The grandeur of that era has been shown through large and beautiful sets, but somewhere, something is missing. The biggest problem with the film is its editing. The pace is slow, making you feel like you’ve been sitting in the theater for centuries.
The film has a lot of dialogue, but hardly any of them will stick with you after the film. The loose first half is followed by an action-packed second half that generates interest in your mind. The music is not very special, but the background score enhances your experience. There are torture scenes that will make you look away. If you have a problem with violent scenes, you should be prepared before watching ‘Chhaava’.