Chhava Movie Review- Hindi (2025)

Movie: Chhava- 2025

Director: Lakshman Utekar

Production: Dinesh Vijayan

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandana & Others

Music: A. R. Rahman 

Editor: Manish Pradhan

Cinematography: Sourabh Goswami

Language: Hindi

Censor: U/A (Warning - Violence, Blood Pools)

Release Date: 14/02/2025

3.75/5

"A Fierce Roar of Sambhaji In Voice of Vicky Kaushal"

01. All about 'Chhava'

Chhava is the latest Hindi language film making the youngsters go bonkers for the action sequences & historical backdrop moreover a legend on the greatest Chathrapathi Sambhaji Maharaj - the lion's cub- Chhava. Film is based on the Marathi novel Shivaji Sawant. 

Coming to the film - I can simply term it as an action oriented extravaganza with a dash of historical adaptive. If at all, if anyone wonders how the great Sambhaji was a trouble to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who lacked any part of mercy, kindness or ethics, this film shows perfectly how the Deccan king was a nail in Aurangzeb's toe. It's an out & out action film featuring war sequences for more than 3/4rth of the duration. Finally it's Vicky Kaushal's gift to all movie lovers. 

Film is not a straight forward story telling or frame by frame feature of Sambhaji Maharaj's biography but rather is on the other side of the coin - exploring why the Mughals had to target Sambhaji after Shivaji Maharaj's death, and how capturing Sambhaji wasn't a simple task & how the Marathas fought the Mughals is the main plot of the film.

02. What impresses in the film?

Film starts with a war & ends on a war- but what happened in between is again the war- so basically it's a film on how Marathas revolted against Mughals. The emotion that Sambhaji carries through out & the aura around him is clearly evident in the film. How the hails of "Har Har Mahadev & Jai Jagadamba" keep coming in the film is interestingly captured & rightly portrayed in how the Marathas king imposed or exposed the greatness of Hindhu tatva/dharma to his people & never left by it's side is absolutely amazing to watch. And last but not the least- the beast of best' in the film is Vicky Kaushal - I dunno how he has enacted such a role & how he brought up so much life to this character. 

03. Where Chhava fails?

Chhava fails rightly as a film! Yes, it isnot a sequence orientated or frame by frame film as discussed earlier neither it explores all historical milestones of great Sambhaji Maharaj but it only & only concentrates on bringing in the concept of how Sambhaji was captured by the ruthless Mughal emperor & tortured, until executed in his fort. I don't get the motto or climax of the film right, if it was an ode to Sambhaji why all the mess at end? If that was reality though - still this film doesn't deserve such horrible climax which more or less is like an elevation to Aurangzeb rather to the great Maratha king. 

The entire first half is just bits & cuts of many raw edits which appear very much forced upon audience without any proper execution or emotional impact. If not for Vicky Kaushal the film is a total waste- as it doesn't even give the right goosebumps impact of the milestones in Sambhaji's life - mostly concentrates on fake elevations, poor emotions or improper taking & most importantly the trauma & chaos that it brings towards the ending. 

04. Performances & technicalities. 

Vicky Kaushal is the beast in the film! Am still unable to understand how he was able to do this. At many junctures in the film I heard him roaring like a lion & he aptly justified the character. He appears realistic brings so much life to the character with his stupendous performance which not only dominates screenplay but also the character that he's portraying for surprise! Hail the legend - Bollywood never fails to bring such characters where these people like Kaushal get to showcase their powerhouse of talent. 

Rashmika as Yesubai Bhonsale is also tailor made & she does prerequisites. No complaints! Performances from Akshay Khanna & Aushutosh Rana standout too.

Editing was the least connected dot- it's a total mismatch. I don't understand how the first half even made the final cut. Many parts of film appears as bits & pieces. Screenplay too falls flat with the very dull plot. Director too failed according to me as he was unable to portray the right story of Sambhaji. My entire rating for film only terms to the action sequences concept & Vicky Kaushal otherwise it's a below average film - the odd one out climax makes it even more worst. 

A. R. Rahman - Mozart of Madras surprisingly scores for a Marathi legend & I feel he has done what he's ought too. There are couple of songs & many BGMs which absolutely elevated the film, like the second half revolt scenes were of top notch quality - like the 'Aaila Aaila' BGM or 'Toofan' BGM. But somewhere many junctures felt flat or mismatched due to the inconsistencies in editing but in my opinion - Rahman cannot be blammed for those- he did how much he can & what he did justifies the plot. 

05. At last.....?

Chhava is a great film for the freshness in picturing action sequences & showcasing how Marathas revolted against the Mughals & rebellious Aurangzeb. But falls too flat as it was unable to portray the legend of Sambhaji Maharaj to a much bigger space. In terms of story, plot & execution - the film almost fails but eventually or greatly saved by War sequences & Vicky Kaushal. 

Finally with mixed emotions,I can suggest that it's a sure theatre experience film that cannot be missed but with lot of limitations as discussed above.