Chhaava Movie Review: Vicky Kaushal Shines in This Historical Drama
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Cozycritic Rating: 4/5
Starring: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Diana Penty, Divya Dutta, and others
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Dinesh Vijan
Music Director: A R Rahman
Cinematographer: Saurabh Goswami
Chhaava is about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a brave warrior who changed history, as he defends the Maratha empire from Mughal ruler Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna). Rashmika Mandanna plays Yesubai, Sambhaji’s wife. Starring Vicky Kaushal, the movie has everyone excited. But is it as good as expected? Let’s find out.
Story Summary
Chhaava is based on Shivaji Sawant’s novel Chhava. The movie follows Sambhaji’s rise to power after his father Shivaji Maharaj’s death, highlighting his battles, political struggles, and loyalty to his people. The film ends with Sambhaji’s heartbreaking capture, torture, and refusal to convert to Islam.
- Vicky Kaushal’s Acting—Intense and powerful performance.
- Akshaye Khanna’s Role—Convincing as Aurangzeb.
- Rashmika Mandanna’s Presence—Strong screen presence despite a limited role.
- Action Sequences—Well-choreographed and thrilling.
- Battle Scenes—Grand and visually stunning.
- Historical Significance—Brings an important chapter of history to life.
- Authentic Costumes & Sets—Enhances historical accuracy.
- Emotional Impact—Captures the struggles and sacrifices of the era.
- Underdeveloped Characters—Some key roles lack depth.
- Limited Screen Time—Could have been explored further.
- Weak Character Development—Her role feels underutilized.
- Over-dramatization—Some scenes feel exaggerated.
- Excessive Violence—Might not appeal to all audiences.
- Historical Inaccuracies—Some facts are altered for drama.
- Predictable Narrative – Lacks fresh perspective.
- Slow Pacing – Some scenes feel stretched.
Analysis by Aspects
Review & Rating
The direction tries to show a big, grand story but feels uneven at times. Some scenes are well-shot, but others feel rushed.
The story moves slowly in the first half, making it hard to stay interested, but the ending is strong.
The dialogues are emotional and impactful, but sometimes they feel too dramatic and forced.
The music adds emotion but is too loud in many scenes, making it hard to hear the dialogues.
The action scenes are exciting and feel real, keeping viewers hooked.
The sets, costumes, and visuals are beautiful and make you feel like you’re in that time.
Vicky Kaushal gives a brilliant performance, showing many emotions. The other actors do well, but Kaushal is the highlight.
Across different Platforms
Critics’ Verdict
Rediff appreciated the film’s grand visuals and engaging storyline, noting that the sets and costumes added authenticity.
ABP Live praised the film’s historical accuracy and the realistic portrayal of Maratha history.
Pinkvilla admired Vicky Kaushal’s acting but mentioned that the slow pacing in the first half affected the overall experience.
Highlighted the film’s intense climax but criticized the overuse of background music, which took away from the impact of key scenes.
Pointed out that while the film had emotional depth, the loud background score and dramatic scenes made it hard to stay connected.
NDTV appreciated the attempt to portray Sambhaji Maharaj’s story but felt that the film’s sound design was too overwhelming.
Audiences on IMDb praised the film highly, especially Vicky Kaushal’s performance and the visual appeal, though some viewers also noted the pacing issues.
In-depth analysis of Ratings Across Platforms
An analysis of the ratings reveals a consensus on certain aspects of Chhaava:
- Performance: Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj has been unanimously praised. Critics and audiences alike have lauded his ability to bring depth, emotion, and intensity to the character. Kaushal’s performance is considered the film’s highlight, with many stating that he carried the movie.
- Visuals and Action Sequences: The film’s visual appeal and action choreography have received positive feedback. The grand sets, detailed costumes, and well-executed battle scenes have been highlighted as major strengths. The cinematography captures the essence of the historical period, making the film a visual treat.
- Storytelling and Pacing: While the film’s narrative has been appreciated for its ambition and scope, the storytelling has faced criticism for its uneven pacing. The first half has been described as slow and filled with unnecessary musical interludes, while the second half, particularly the climax, has been praised for its intensity and emotional depth.
- Technical Aspects: Sound design has emerged as a common point of criticism. Many reviewers have pointed out that the background score often overshadowed dialogues, making certain scenes less impactful. Additionally, the editing has been critiqued for being inconsistent, affecting the overall flow of the film.
- Historical Accuracy: Some critics have raised concerns about historical inaccuracies in the film. While Chhaava draws heavily from Shivaji Sawant’s novel, certain creative liberties taken by the filmmakers have sparked debates among history purists. However, many argue that the film’s primary objective is to entertain and inspire, rather than serve as a documentary.
Let's check
Box office collection.
Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar and featuring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, has been performing exceptionally well at the box office. As of February 20, 2025, the film has amassed approximately ₹288.42 crore worldwide. The domestic box office has contributed ₹203.68 crore net (₹242.48 crore gross), while overseas collections stand at ₹45.94 crore.
India Box Office Collections (Day-Wise):
- Day 1 (Friday): ₹33.10 crore
- Day 2 (Saturday): ₹37 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): ₹48.5 crore
- Day 4 (Monday): ₹24 crore
- Day 5 (Tuesday): ₹25.56 crore
- Day 6 (Wednesday): ₹32 crore
- Day 7 (Thursday – till 5:30 PM): ₹8.12 crore
This brings the total domestic net earnings to ₹205.87 crore as of Day 7.
Box Office Records & Success
The film has set multiple milestones, including becoming the first Bollywood release of 2025 to surpass the ₹200-crore mark. It has also recorded the highest first Wednesday earnings for any Bollywood film this year.
Adapted from Shivaji Sawant’s acclaimed Marathi novel Chhava, the movie portrays the life of Maratha warrior king Sambhaji. Its gripping historical narrative and powerful performances have contributed to its overwhelming success at the box office.
FAQs
It is a historical drama about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s bravery and battles.
Chhaava offers a memorable portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj, with outstanding acting and visuals, but struggles with pacing and technical flaws.
CozyCritic Rating: 4/5
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CHHAVA
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