‘Chhaava’ Review: A Triumphant Roar for Vicky Kaushal

Chhaava is a historical action film directed by Laxman Utekar and based on the text by Shivaji Sawant.

The film tells the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was the son of Shivaji I – the founder of the Maratha kingdom.

Vicky Kaushal portrays Sambhaji as the movie navigates the monarch’s journey to defeat the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna).

The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna as Sambhaji’s wife, Maharani Yesubai.

Filled with pulse-racing, violent action and themes of courage and grit, Chhaava is a testament to one’s devotion to their motherland.

Vicky invests every pore of his being into the film, which is directed sharply by Laxman.

However, is this enough for viewers to invest over two and a half hours of their time?

DESIblitz is here to help you decide whether to watch Chhaava or not.

A Rousing Premise 

Chhaava translates to ‘lion’s cub’, which is a meaning that embodies the spirit of the film.

After his father dies, Sambhaji assumes the throne of the Marathas along with Yesubai.

However, their land is still under threat from the ruthless Aurangzeb of the Mughal Empire.

The film opens with the Maratha army, led by Sambhaji, ferociously attacking Aurangzeb’s troops.

This scene gives the audience a taste of the blood, gore, and action that appears throughout the next two and a half hours.

Sambhaji is fierce and undaunted. Screaming, menacing, and never bowing, he can fend off an entire army alone.

Apart from his loving wife, he is surrounded by faithful warriors and advisors. 

These include Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite (Ashutosh Rana) and the lyrical Kavi Kalash (Vineet Kumar Singh).

However, in the form of Soyarabai (Divya Dutta) and a few other characters, he finds snakes in the grass of his homeland.

As the ‘lion’s cub’, Sambhaji must keep the flag of justice flying high over the Maratha Empire and fulfil the uncompleted dreams of his father.

It is a soul-stirring story that is an ode to goodness, faith, and harmony.

On the face of it, Chhaava is an addition to a long line of historical, patriotic dramas.

While its themes could be considered cliche, Chhaava brings the unique legend of Sambhaji to a newer generation in a confident and charismatic way.

Performances

As the titular character, Vicky Kaushal leads Chhaava all the way. He delivers his lines with an unmatched zeal.

In their second collaboration following Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023), Laxman presents Vicky as we’ve never seen him before.

During the action scenes, Vicky is loud and authoritative. Even when the screen gets too violent, the audience cannot turn away from Vicky when he is up there.

In the gentile scenes between Yesubai and Sambhaji, Vicky transforms from this beast into a charming romantic, reminding viewers of his many facets.

It is a demanding role, yet Vicky nails it with dignity and expertise. His wife, Katrina Kaif, heaps praise on his performance and says:

“You truly are outstanding. Every time you come onscreen, you are a chameleon in the way you transform into your characters. Effortless and fluid.”

However, Vicky is not the only star that shines in Chhaava. Akshaye Khanna is brutally brilliant as Aurangzeb. 

While Vicky’s portrayal is more gregarious, Akshaye brings a wonderfully sly restraint to the Mughal ruler. 

It wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to say that the makers have done an injustice to Akshaye’s talent, as the role doesn’t require him to say a little more than a few words in the film.

But the craft of a truly talented actor allows them to convey a lot through a little, and Akshaye’s mystique as Aurangzeb accomplishes just that.

Although Rashmika is sincere and provides a solid anchor as Yesubai, it is a little disappointing to see the refined actress with fewer scenes than her talent deserves.

Yesubai is only there to support her husband, and while this may have been the norm in the film’s period, more detail about the character could have provided Chhaava with more layers.

The supporting cast is brilliant. Each actor brings their own stamp to the film. In such a grand movie, the action could have easily overshadowed the characters.

However, Chhaava balances its bloodshed with its brotherhood. Therein lies its victory.

Exaggerated Strength?

While the film rides high on the plane of its action and battle sequences, are there some instances where it seems unbelievable?

In a historical piece, a movie has the responsibility to stay true to its subject matter, lest it become rife with inaccuracies.

There is no denying that the real-life battles between Sambhaji and Aurangzeb may have been just as brutal – if not more – as shown in the film.

However, when Sambhaji can fight off entire troops alone, the viewers could be forgiven for scratching their heads.

In a scene, when his whole army has been decimated by the enemy, Sambhaji continues to fight off soldiers despite arrows and swords piercing and slashing his body.

This makes the film verge on exaggeration. One could easily find oneself wondering why a single soldier who is not directly facing the king cannot overpower him among a whole army attacking the monarch.

Of course, these scenes may have been mounted in this way to capitalise on the strong image of a Bollywood hero.

Despite the excessive violence, the film succeeds, especially in its climax, which firmly highlights Sambhaji’s bravery.

Although one does tire of repeatedly listening to the idea of a ‘lion’s cub’, Chhaava should be commended for staying true to its themes and never losing sight of its goal.

That goal is to make us believe, and we do that long after we’ve left our seats.

Direction & Execution

Just as Vicky Kaushal shows his multifaceted acting, Laxman Utekar underlines his versatility behind the camera in Chhaava.

This film is clearly a challenging task to execute. However, Laxman professionally captures every frame.

For historical buffs, the picture could be seen as a privilege. When the battles rage, they feel that they’re out there where the action is.

When the courts emerge, they want to don robes and crowns while joining the debates and discussions.

In an interview, Laxman reveals that a folk dance sequence, known as Lezim, was removed from the film.

Detailing the reason, the director admits: “Sambhaji Maharaj could have played Lezim.

“He was a king but also a human and only 22, but I think people didn’t want to see him dance or play Lezim.

“We immediately removed it.”

This demonstrates Laxman’s commitment to the film, which gleams in every scene.

Chhaava is an energetic canvas of war, wisdom, and willpower.

Its performances are its victory – although the film is a Vicky Kaushal triumph all the way.

His roar as Sambhaji will be echoing in your ears long after the ending credits have rolled.

While the film may go too far in its glorification of its main protagonist, the objective is clear: Be brave, be bold, and never beg. 

Released on February 14, 2025, Chhaava promises a mind-blowing experience for Vicky Kaushal fans!

Buckle up for the rollercoaster and have fun, even if the loops seem a bit too wide.