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Film: Chhaava
Cast: Vicky Kaushali, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Dinesh Vijan
It is always delightful to have different genres come out from Bollywood. Historical films in particular are a way of educating and reiterating the foundational values for Indians across the globe. ‘Chhaava’ is Bollywood’s latest historical offering, and here’s our verdict!
Chhaava tells the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His father had the vision for a land free of tyranny and for people of every faith to live freely and in harmony. He vows to make this very vision a reality even after his father’s passing. Sambhaji poses a threat to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb who is aware of the strength Sambhaji poses, and that it is quite similar to his father Shivaji’s. It also occurs to Aurangzeb that the Maratha dynasty does not lack leadership for their resistance post Shivaji’s passing. As Sambhaji leads the resistance, Aurangzeb’s son Akbar seeks refuge under Sambhaji and asks for help to defeat his father. This intensifies the enmity between the two sides.
In the midst of these tensions, a ploy to have Sambhaji’s step-brother Rajaram take the throne arises. Sambhaji later discovers the ploy has been hatched by his step-mother Soyarabai. More internal rivals arise in the form of his brothers-in-law, and you will see how a cunning move by them led to devastating results. Throughout the story, we also get to witness the love between Sambhaji and his wife, Yesubai. Their love weathered all the storms and Yesubai was a strong and spiritual force giving Sambhaji his strength and determination.
In terms of the performances, Vicky Kaushal delivers possibly his best and most memorable performance yet. Taking on the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a huge responsibility and he exceeds all expectations with his performance. It is safe to say that Kaushal’s performance was the backbone of the film, often holding things together even when things could have gone wrong. Maharani Yesubai undoubtedly becomes a landmark role for Rashmika Mandanna. She brought the grace and sincerity the role required and this may just be her best performance so far. A splendid performer of the film was Ashutosh Rana, who played the role of Sarlashkar Hambirrao Mohite. Along with his fine performance, he and Kaushal enjoyed great chemistry in their scenes together. Divya Dutta was superb as Soyarabai, embodying both the motherly affection and insecurity of her role. Words may not be enough to praise Akshaye Khanna, as he was spectacular as Aurangzeb, and you will be forgiven for wishing to have seen more of him in the role.
While the action scenes were well choreographed, there were times during them, when the screen felt ‘too full’ and seemed to have had more going on than required. Some of these scenes were quite gruesome too, so do exercise caution and adhere to your local film board’s age guidelines. We really wish a film as big and grand as this, had a more memorable and impactful soundtrack. ‘Jaane Tu’ works well, but the love story was just one part of the overall film. Nevertheless, with a power-packed performance by Vicky Kaushal and a well executed retelling of historical events, everything comes together despite the few odds.
Director Laxman Utekar and team have handled the film with the sensitivity and sensibility it requires. His vision has made for a cinematic experience instilling a sense of pride and enrichment in Indians across the globe.
This film is proof that the historical genre can still pull a crowd in our current time, and demonstrates how a solid performance makes a film all the more compelling and immersive for the viewer.
Chhaava is now showing at a cinema near you.
