I just watched the movie Chhaava and guys, the show was houseful. Not just that, but every show across India is running houseful, which clearly shows the craze for this Chhaava movie. And honestly, it deserves it—this film showcases an extreme level of filmmaking. Maddock is pure genius. The way they present each scene and the level at which they execute it is something everyone should learn from.
Cast
- Vicky Kaushal
- Rashmika Mandanna
- Akshaye Khanna
- Ashutosh Rana
- Divya Dutta
- Diana Penty
- Vineet Kumar Singh
- Rohit Pathak
Photos
Release Date
14 February 2025
Budget
₹130 Crores
Genres
- Historic
- Action
- Patriotism
- War
- Emotional
- Adventure
Rating
4.5/5
Overview
Anyway, talking about the Chhaava movie, everyone knows that it is based on the life, bravery, and sacrifice of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for Hindavi Swarajya. People are aware of him, but not in-depth. However, the way the story unfolds with its core elements and details will give you chills. You will feel goosebumps at every moment.
What a tremendous performance by each and every actor! More than that, I have to say that the casting of every character is just perfect.
This film is beyond epic, and it’s a good thing that it wasn’t released around the same time as Pushpa 2, because Pushpa 2’s collection would have been affected to a great extent. Chhaava film has historical emotions, passion, powerful acting, intense performances, patriotism, epic-level action, and, on top of that, a storyline that everyone must watch to understand what happened after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s era. What legacy did he leave behind, and how did his eldest son, Sambhaji Maharaj, take it forward a hundred times stronger?
The cruelty of Aurangzeb had reached its peak, and Chhaava movie portrays it in a very impactful way. Speaking of Aurangzeb, there’s a powerful moment in the movie when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passes away. At that moment, Aurangzeb utters a dialogue:
“O Lord, keep the gates of heaven open, a lion is arriving.”
Hearing this dialogue in the cinema hall sent chills down everyone’s spine. Just imagine—the way Aurangzeb himself acknowledged that Shivaji Maharaj was nothing less than a lion.
Another iconic moment was when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s crown was shown, and Sambhaji Maharaj’s emotions in that scene were so intense that they instantly connected with the audience on an emotional level.
Chhaava movie is nearly three hours long because it is a historic epic—it takes its time to build. The way the initial buildup is done raises expectations even higher. However, every 10-15 minutes, the film momentarily steps away from action sequences to focus on storytelling. It highlights Yeshubai’s love and respect for Sambhaji Maharaj, the internal politics of his kingdom, and the conflict between Aurangzeb and Akbar. These elements might slow the film down a bit, but they are crucial and cannot be altered in historical storytelling.
The second half is where the real impact hits. We’ve all read in history books how Sambhaji Maharaj was captured and tortured—his nails were pulled out, his wounds were salted, and his fingers were cut off. But seeing it on screen was on a whole different level. We have all watched R-rated movies with intense violence, but this was different. The emotional connection Indians have with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj makes these scenes unbearable to watch.
And then comes the climax. Watching it will bring tears to your eyes—it’s guaranteed. The entire audience was literally shivering after the climax. Vicky Kaushal’s performance in this movie will definitely earn him a National Award, and he truly deserves it. Reading history in books is one thing, but witnessing it unfold on screen and feeling every moment is an experience like no other. So don’t watch this movie just for entertainment—watch it to connect with history, to feel it. You will salute this kind of filmmaking with the utmost respect.
And how can we forget Akshaye Khanna? He may not have been in full action mode, but he delivered exactly what his character demanded, adding the right emphasis where needed.
From my side, I highly recommend that everyone watch this Chhaava movie in theaters. Support such epic historical films so that more of them continue to be made for the big screen.