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Star Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, and others
Director: Riteish Deshmukh
What’s Good: The earnest attempt to not just show a King fighting on the battlefield but a strategist, making words to claim Swarajya, no matter what the cost!
What’s Bad: Some might find the historical pacing a bit heavy in the first half, but the payoff is so massive you won’t care!
Loo Break: Strictly during the interval, else you will miss the dots, and it is one lengthy history chapter.
Watch or Not?: If you have even a drop of love for good historical storytelling, book your tickets without a doubt! Take your kids along; they need to see history unfold with such great vision!
Language: Marathi, Hindi
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 3 hours 15 minutes
User Rating:
Sher haathi se darta hai, kyunki haathi ko uski taakat ka andaza hota hai aur sher ko uski aukaat ka! When Afzal Khan explains this power dynamics to a young Maratha kid, he did not know that ultimately, a lion is the king of the jungle and not the elephant! This one dialogue in the initial chapter of Raja Shivaji, directed, written, and acted by Riteish Deshmukh, sets the tone of the entire film in the brightest and the ‘rightest’ (I wish it could be a word) direction!
Biographical dramas are tricky. Moreover, to celebrate a hero, you know, through the chapters of a history book, is trickier. You have to make sure that nothing goes wrong – Neither a dialogue, nor a costume, nor a reference, nor a location, and most importantly, the hero and his army have to be hailed to such a perfection that you need god-level conviction on your story to pull a biopic and celebrate a hero! Riteish Deshmukh’s period drama ticks all the boxes for a good biographical drama, embedded deep in the history of India.
Raja Shivaji Movie Review: Script Analysis
The opening of the film takes us right into the birth of a dream called Swarajya. The screenplay, penned with immense heart and historical reverence, avoids the trap of being a mere history lesson. Instead, it focuses on the tactical genius and the emotional core of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It starts with the seeds of rebellion sown in a young heart and spans through the gritty formation of the Maratha Empire. What stands out is the pacing of the film and the transitions from political aspirations to alliances to personal equations, all scripted and blended perfectly into chapters! The screenplay ensures that while Shivaji Raje is the sun, the Maavalas (his soldiers) are the stars that make the Maratha sky shine.
Raja Shivaji Movie Review: Star Performance
Unlike many historical epics that rely solely on VFX, Raja Shivaji relies on emotion. The film wins because it doesn’t just show you what Shivaji Maharaj did; it shows you why and how he did it. The birth of Swarajya and his fight for Swarajya is given a distinct and honorable identity, and it is very minimal chest thumping that makes the storytelling authentic!
Playing the antagonist – Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan impresses. He always does. In fact, his screen presence is towering, providing the perfect wall for our hero to overcome. Abhishek Bachchan as Shambhuji Maharaj makes you emotional. He delivers a strong connection to the film, cementing the birth of Swarajya and one of the biggest rebellions! Sachin Khedekar as Shivaji and Shambhuji’s father Shahaji Raje, and Bhagyashree as their mother make this as much a beautiful family drama as it is a period war epic.
Genelia Deshmukh can make you cry at the drop of a hat! I mean, she is the only actor I cannot see crying! She is the backbone of the family dynamics, making sure to guard the future of the Maratha Empire, and proving that the Maratha Empire was built on the sacrifices and wisdom of its women as well!
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Raja Shivaji Movie Review: Direction, Music
As a director, Riteish Deshmukh is a revelation! After Ved’s brilliance, he has evolved into a filmmaker who understands the pulse of the soil. His vision is grand yet grounded, and you will admire his sincerity as a filmmaker with each and every detail that has been put to use! He establishes the emotional connection between Shivaji and his family and Shivaji and his soldiers as the core of the story! Riteish Deshmukh‘s biggest victory as a director is his restraint – he knows exactly when to take the backseat and not let the film thrive on a singular hero’s identity, but he unleashes the cinematic roar, successfully crafting a film that celebrates the collective spirit of the Marathas rather than just the singular hero.
Ajay-Atul’s music works in favor of the film. But I wish even in Hindi, they could deliver an album that spoke as an extended character. The track for Shambhuji is a guaranteed goosebump, though, but you have to pay a lot of attention to understand what is being said! John Stewart Eduri’s background score elevates the film.
Raja Shivaji Movie Review: The Last Word
The film is a star-studded salute! Salman Khan appears in a cameo that will send the theaters into a frenzy, and his presence is a massive tribute to the Maratha spirit. Fardeen Khan surprises with a slick, impactful appearance as Shah Jahan, while Amol Gupte and Boman Irani bring theatrical brilliance to their short but pivotal roles. Vidya Balan rules the list of these cameos as the queen amongst the warring rulers!
Raja Shivaji is a masterclass because it understands human stakes. It breaks the myth that historical films need not be loud to be effective. By focusing on the Maavalas as much as it focuses on the dream of Swarajya, Riteish Deshmukh makes the story relatable to the 21st-century audience. The film ensures that every battle has a high emotional cost, making the victory feel earned.
Is this the best period epic of recent times? No. It comes along with flaws, but in end it overcomes them and balances them with its strong content and more importantly, necessary to know content. But still you need to watch it in the theaters for Riteish Deshmukh’s evolution into a filmmaker who understands grandeur with soul.
PS. Before I forget, Riteish Deshmukh’s son, Rahyl Deshmukh, needs to be applauded for such effortless screen presence. He plays the young Shivaji, asking the right questions so right! Actually, he is the stepping stone of the film that captivates you enough to stay till the end for 3 hours and 15 minutes!
3.5 star
Raja Shivaji Trailer
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