Chhaava Review: Vicky And Rashmika Bring To Life Laxman Utekar’s Raje and Maharani
Chhaava, one of the year’s most anticipated films has finally hit the screens.
Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film brings to life the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the valiant son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is an action-drama flick that takes you on a journey highlighting the legacy of a legend, who deserves much more than what has been written about him in the pages of history. Director Laxman Utekar clearly focuses on the story he wants to narrate, and the clarity of the storytelling is seen right from the opening slate of the film.
Laxman Utekar’s ‘Raje’
Throughout the promotions of the film, Laxman Utekar referred to Kaushal only as his ‘Raje (King)’. Bringing to life the character of Chhaava is a roaring Vicky Kaushal, who, through his portrayal of the king, makes you bow down to his acting skills. He walks, talks and breathes like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The Uri actor has put in a lot of effort to become the “Raje” Laxman Utekar wanted him to be, and the result is nothing short of a monumental achievement in their respective careers.
Plot and Action
The film starts from the time when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is crowned the king of the Maratha Empire, and it quickly skips across to his rivalry and war with the Mughal king, Aurangzeb, played by Akshaye Khanna. The 2 hour 35 minute movie, showcases some of the epic battles that were fought between the Mughals and the Maratha Empire before Aurangzeb’s army captures Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj after a nine-year hunt to get hold of him. Though the action sequences are directed to make you jump out of your seats, but there could have been more sequences on how the Maratha warriors mastered the famous Guerilla Warfare.
Aurangzeb Bought To Life
Akshaye Khanna has owned this character as much as Vicky Kaushal did as the King. Right from the walk to the delivery of dialogues and the aggression, Khanna makes you believe that he is indeed Aurangzeb. The actor has gone through a tremendous makeover and it is safe to state that no one else could have done justice to the character like Khanna did in the film. Khanna makes it clear with his stance and look, that he is the true ruler of the Mughal kingdom.
Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale
Beyond these two stalwarts’ performances, another prominent character in the film is that of Rashmika Mandanna, who plays the character of Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale also referred to as Chhatrapati Maharani. The actor has taken a lot of effort to slip into the skin of a Maratha queen and her portrayal of the queen is something that will make her stand out. Strong dialogue delivery with the right amount of innocence in her eyes, Laxman Utekar has hit it out of the park with yet another perfect casting for the film.
The Rahman Touch
When talking of kings and queens, who can forget the story of King Midas, who turned anything into gold with just a touch? Well, this is exactly what AR Rahman does with his music and background score. The theme track of the film, Aaya Re Toofan, along with the two soulful melodies, Jaane Tu and Zinda Rahey, already makes this album a strong contender for the music accolades. However, the background score might just take you on a trip to Jodha Akbar, as it sounds slightly similar here and there.
Overall, the film, produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films, has managed to capture the essence of who Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was and why people across the world need to know of his legacy.