Title: Chhaava
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna
Director: Laxman Utekar
Where to watch: In theatres
Rating: 2.5 stars
Chhaava Review: Period films have always been audiences’ favourite but are rarely made because there’s a huge risk. They are mounted on a huge budget and today we don’t know what would irk people and there will be a trend on social media to boycott the film. But, since the time Chhaava starring Vicky Kaushal was announced, everyone has been keen to watch it. The trailer surely grabbed our attention and we were looking forward to the movie. So, is Chhaava worth your time and money? Read on to know that…
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passes away so Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna) thinks that now he can capture Deccan and rule. But, while Sher (lion) has passed away and his son (Chhaava) Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (Vicky Kaushal) is still alive and now he is the king of Deccan. Sambhaji Maharaj’s only wish is to keep the feeling of Swaraj alive and not let the Mughals rule on Deccan. How Sambhaji Maharaj saves Deccan from Aurangzeb, forms the rest of the story.
Chhaava is an adaptation of the Marathi novel of the same name. The screenplay is written by Laxman Utekar, Rishi Virmani, Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan, and Utekar has directed the movie. The filmmaker has earlier made light-hearted movies like Luka Chuppi, Mimi, and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, and this is his first attempt to make a movie with such grandeur. We liked Utekar’s previous work, but Chhaava fails to live up to the expectations.
The first half of the movie is very dull; there are no whistle or clap-worthy moments. The film just goes on without giving us any adrenaline rush. When the second half starts, Sambhaji Maharaj and his soldiers plan a war, and we really feel that now, the movie will pick up, but once again we are left disappointed. In the last 45 minutes, Chhaava becomes a bit better, but then again the climax looks stretched.
Also, this is a movie based on a Maratha warrior, but apart from a couple of lines in the Marathi language, the dialogues are in proper Hindi and the actors are not even speaking in a Marathi accent. This is something we loved in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani where the characters spoke in Hindi but with a perfect Marathi accent.
On paper, Chhaava would look like a perfect grand film with good action and emotions. Of course, the grandeur is there, but the not-so-well-choreographed action sequences, and no emotional depth scenes (apart from one between Sambhaji Maharaj and Chandogamatya), make this one a tiring watch.
The movie is also very gory and has many brutal scenes. So, if you are planning to take your kids (as it is a U/A film), let us warn you they might feel uncomfortable in many scenes.
Chhaava Review – Actors’ Performances
Talking about performances, Vicky Kaushal has done his part well. As we said earlier the film becomes a bit better in the last 45 minutes, so even Vicky shines in those moments proving that he is one of the most talented actors we have in the industry. Rashmila Mandanna has a very strong character to play. She looks pretty as Yesubai and acts with her eyes, but as soon as she mouths a dialogue, her South Indian accent spoils everything.
Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb is decent and we wanted to see more of him. We feel that the filmmaker should have utilized him more. It feels bad to see Diana Penty playing such an insignificant role. We know she is talented, and here looks pretty but she is wasted.
In the supporting cast, it is Vineet Kumar Singh, who impresses us a lot as Chandogamatya. There’s a scene featuring him in the second half that will get claps and whistles in the theatre.
Chhaava Review – Music
We had never thought that we would write this about the music of AR Rahman. Well, not even one song of Chhaava leaves a mark and even the background score is just too loud and doesn’t match the film’s theme. The songs are very contemporary and don’t have the touch of Marathi folk music in them. Once again something that we get to hear in SLB’s movies.
Chhaava Review – Final Verdict
Overall, Chhaava is a grand film with great visuals, but instead of roaring it is boring. Aurangzeb in a scene tells Sambhaji Maharaj, ‘Mazaa Nahi Aaya’ and we agree with him.
