I have not been keeping abreast of Bollywood movie releases lately. Consequently, the release of Chaava on February 14 largely went unnoticed by me. It was only a couple of days later that I realized it was a movie about a historical character.
Having spent my formative years in Kerala, I had very limited exposure to the Maratha rulers. Our school textbooks never taught us about great figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji. Instead, the Mughals were always glorified. At this point, I must confess that I had never heard of Sambhaji Maharaj before. I quickly decided to watch the movie—not for anything else but to learn about the greatness of the Marathas and to educate myself on a part of our real history.
Cinematic Experience
It would not be an overstatement to say that watching Chaava does not feel like watching a typical movie. It transports the audience to the late 16th century, and the story begins to unfold right before your eyes.
While the first half may seem a little slow in certain parts, this is only because the filmmakers have taken the time to lay a solid foundation, introducing various characters and providing the audience with a thorough understanding of the historical context of the period. However, the movie quickly gains momentum, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout the second half.
Director Laxman Utekar, known for his cinematography in movies like English Vinglish and Dear Zindagi, has done full justice to the story. The movie stands out for Vicky Kaushal’s stellar performance as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. In my opinion, the only other actor who could successfully pull off a role like this might be Ram Charan. Anyone who has watched this film would likely agree that Vicky Kaushal has elevated himself to superstardom and is now in a position to dethrone the Khans and the Kapoors as the leading star of the Hindi film industry.
Akshaye Khanna’s portrayal of Aurangzeb is so convincing that I only realized it was him during the interval—and that too, only when my wife pointed it out. Other actors, such as Rashmika Mandanna and Divya Dutta, have also delivered excellent performances.
A.R. Rahman’s background score and music are average at best. He seems to be a pale shadow of what he once was. I truly wish the song Aaya Re Toofan had been sung by someone like Shankar Mahadevan instead of A.R. Rahman himself. However, this does not take much away from the movie experience.
Comparison with Other Period Dramas
We are now accustomed to seeing larger-than-life period dramas like Baahubali and RRR. As a result, our expectations are much higher, and I’m sure this puts the makers of every movie under tremendous pressure.
Chaava, reportedly made on a budget of ₹130-140 crore, certainly meets our expectations in terms of its grandeur. There is not a single scene that feels over-dramatized. The director has ensured that even the battle scenes involving thousands of soldiers feel incredibly real, as if they are happening right in front of our eyes. The filmmakers have also put in a great deal of effort to beautifully capture the guerrilla warfare techniques employed by the Marathas.
Highlights of the Movie
(Please be warned of minor spoilers in this section.)
There are not just one or two, but several highlights, and it’s impossible and unnecessary to mention all of them here. I also don’t want to spoil your movie experience. I will just list a couple of them.
No. 1
Chhatrapati Sambhaji ends his address to the other chieftains at Sangameshwar with the war cry: “Jai Bhavani, Om Namah Parvati Pataye, Har Har Mahadev.” This one scene alone generates an overwhelming sense of pride, patriotism, and a strong sense of nationalism rooted in ancient Bharatiya culture and tradition. The dialogue delivery is so powerful that we feel an intense urge to shout “Har Har Mahadev” along with Sambhaji Maharaj.
No. 2
The second scene is when Aurangzeb gives Sambhaji the option to convert and says:: “Come over to the Mughal side. You can lead a calm and peaceful life. You only need to convert.”
To this, Sambhaji responds: “Come over to the Maratha side? You can lead a calm and peaceful life—and you don’t even have to convert.” This scene is so powerful that the theater erupted into loud cheers and applause.
Conclusion: A Must-Watch or Not??
If you have read this far, deciding whether to watch the movie is a no-brainer. Legends like Chhatrapati Shivaji and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj displayed enormous valor to defend our culture from invaders. They laid down their lives so that people like you and me could be born as part of this great civilization. They ensured that Hindu Dharma survived the onslaught of those who sought to eliminate it.
It is our responsibility to ensure that their sacrifices do not go in vain. The first step in fulfilling our responsibility toward our nation and our ancestors is to understand what they did for us. Chaava is an enthralling period drama and a must-watch for every Bharatiya who is proud of this land and its civilization.
Jai Bhavani, Om Namah Parvati Pataye, Har Har Mahadev.
Image Courtesy: Filmibeat
