In the last few years, Bollywood has given some major commercial blockbusters, along with multiple disappointments. If we analyse the types of movies that Bollywood has produced recently, we will get to see that the theme “nationalism” has been the most dominating.
The theme has proven to be successful to an extent, though the failure rate is also equally high. Despite the risk factors, Bollywood directors and producers have kept faith in this theme. Nationalism blended with historical pride has given notable films such as Gold, Tanhaji, Kesari, Manikarnika, RRR, Ghazi, etc.
The latest addition to the list of movies that blend nationalism and historical pride is Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Akshay Khanna, who made a comeback to Bollywood after a long time. As a leading actor, Vicky Kaushal has recently become an obvious choice for biopic movies. His last film, Sam Bahadur, which is also a nationalism-themed movie, drew the appreciation of the viewers and critics.
Going by the box office report, it is not a surprise that Chhaava is heading towards a commercial success. However, the commercial success does not define the depth of a movie. So, in this review, let us explore the positives and negatives of the movie. Also, we will try to inspect whether the movie’s storyline justifies its commercial success or not.
The Surge of Historical Fiction in Bollywood
The last few years of Bollywood observed a surge in historical fiction. Padmavat was a pioneer in this, though it faced many difficulties during the production period. However, things ended well for the makers, as the film was appreciated by critics. At the same time, it was a commercial success.
After Padmavat, Tanhaji starring Ajay Devgan was loved by the audiences. The film had a high budget, and it successfully registered a blockbuster entry at the box office. Notably, Tanhaji can be regarded as an inspiration to the makers of Chhaava, which also attempts to bring the Maratha valour to the silver screen and woo the audiences with historic pride.
Chhaava is Laxman Utekar’s first attempt at portraying historical fiction on the silver screen. Started career as a cinematographer, Laxman Utekar directed a few notable films such as Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Luka Chuppi.
Chhaava Movie: Synopsis
The word “Chhaava” means lion cub, and the movie’s storyline draws its inspiration from the novel, written by Shivaji Sawant. The book covers the life and heroism of the iconic Maratha warrior Sambhaji. The movie’s storyline does not exactly mimic the original novel. This is understandable since the director wanted to make it more relatable to today’s generation and engaging to the audiences.
There is no doubt that the movie has done a brilliant job of capturing the legacy of the Great Maratha warrior Sambhaji. Vicky Kaushal shines again in portraying a historical character. On the other hand, Akshay Khanna won the hearts of the audiences with his stunning comeback in Aurangzeb’s role in this movie.
In movies, where the machoism of historical characters is portrayed, the female leads have little to showcase their performances. Chhaava is not an exception in this regard. Rashmika Mandana played the character of Yesubai, the wife of Sambhaji. She justified her role with good acting skill, though her screen presence was meagre.
The Technical Aspects
Nowadays, movie buffs prioritize cinematic experiences and entertainment factors, instead of delving deeper into the storyline. Keeping this in mind, Chhaava comes with strong technical aspects, featuring the fight sequences that bring delight to the audiences.
Though Aurangzeb’s Mughal troop was extensive, Marathas outsmarted such a large troop with their guerrilla warfare tactics. Cinematographer Saurabh Goswami has successfully portrayed the cunning war tactics and heroics of the Marathas. The scenes following the destruction of the war deserve special shoutouts. Instead of glorifying war, the movie has certain subtle moments where the severity and destruction of the wars have been portrayed on the screen.
The background score of A R Rahman is intriguing as usual. The song “Aaye re toofan” beautifully emerged into a war anthem in the movie, while blending the Maratha folk to elevate and uplift the Maratha valour.
Final Take
Overall, Chhaava comes with a predictable storyline that resonates with the neo-Hindutwa narratives. The battle between a cruel Muslim ruler and a proud Hindu King or warrior has become a no-secret for success for Bollywood film makers.
Despite its predictable storyline, Chhaava captivates the viewers with its engaging plot and stunning visual effects. Both Vicky Kaushal and Akshay Khanna registered top-notch performances. The box office success justifies the hard work of the makers, actors, and crew to create this historical fiction movie.
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