Movie Rating: 2.5 / 5 Stars ⭐⭐½
Movie Review:
Let’s be honest: making a movie on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj isn’t just about cinema in Maharashtra; it’s about capturing an emotion. Bhalji Pendharkar’s classics set a benchmark generations ago, and the 7-minute Afzal Khan Powada in Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy still gives us goosebumps. Capturing the grandeur, the madness, and the hunger for Swarajya requires deep, meticulous research. Even visionary filmmakers like Ravi Jadhav and Nagraj Manjule realized the sheer weight of this responsibility and eventually stepped away from this project.Enter Riteish Deshmukh. To his credit, he took his dream project head-on, shouldering the massive burden of producing and directing it himself. But does he succeed? Only partially.
The Vision:
When you are portraying a historical warrior who is literally worshipped (pujaniya) by millions, you need a cinematic vision akin to S.S. Rajamouli. Riteish, stepping into the director’s chair for a project of this magnitude, unfortunately stumbles.
Instead of a gripping historical epic, Raja Shivaji often feels like a high-budget TV serial. Spanning over three restless hours, the uneven pacing tests your patience. We get the history; Shah Jahan’s dominance, Shahaji Bhosale’s vatandari, the ignition of Swarajya by Jijabai, and the rise of young Shivba capturing Torna and Purandar. But the execution lacks the depth and soul required. Honestly, during the dramatic scenes, the only things missing were the loud “dhoom tana tana” sound effects and black-and-white flash cuts.
Performances:
- Riteish Deshmukh: Riteish seems heavily stuck in his Lai Bhaari hangover. The awe-inspiring dominance and regal aura of Shivaji Maharaj are missing in his dialogue delivery. However, when the action kicks in, his slow-mo shots and intense close-ups and bang-on. Sanjay Dutt: The absolute highlight of the cast. His towering physical presence and booming voice make Afzal Khan look genuinely menacing and convincing. He carries the weight of the antagonist as always except for the Shamshera.
- Genelia D’Souza & Vidya Balan: This is where the casting falters. Genelia’s Marathi accent is highly distracting; we could forgive it in Ved, but imagining her as Saibai breaks the illusion. Vidya Balan, despite her immense talent, is criminally underutilized and delivers expressions that look straight out of the TV soap (disappointing).
- The Cameos: Abhishek Bachchan’s Marathi feels off, and Fardeen Khan leaves zero impact. But Salman Khan? He gets a bombastic, beautifully presented cameo that appealed to me.
Technicalities & The Ajay-Atul Magic: Technically, the movie is a rocky ride. The color grading is inconsistent, the editing lacks the sharpness needed to trim down the bloated 3-hour runtime, and the sound design feels hollow in crucial dramatic moments.But then comes the saving grace: Ajay-Atul. Their Chhatrapati Shivaji anthem is the actual heartbeat of this movie. It elevates the movie to a whole new level, easily standing as their best historical composition since the legendary Raja Shivchhatrapati TV title track.
The Final Verdict:
Raja Shivaji is deeply flawed. The action lacks logical buildup, the drama is melodramatic, and you have to sit through a lot of tedious storytelling to get to the good parts.
But oh, the final 20 minutes.
Riteish Deshmukh might have a lot to learn about storytelling, but he knows how to visualize big-screen “mass” cinema. The climax of this movie is an absolute theatrical celebration. The grand presentation of Maharaj in the final act fills your chest with pride. By the time the credits roll, the sheer peak “Shivray-ism” on display will force you to stand up, scream, roar, and chant “Jai Shivaji!”
Trailer Link:
