The movie Chhaava (2025), a Hindi-language historical action film directed by Laxman Utekar, is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and adapted from the Marathi novel Chava by Shivaji Sawant. Here are some interesting and lesser-known facts about the film, focusing on unique details from its production, historical context, and reception, while avoiding speculation and sticking to verified information:
- Improvised War Cry: The powerful speech scene before Sambhaji’s final assault, featuring Vicky Kaushal’s war cry of “Om Namah Parvati Patiye Har Har Mahadev,” was not rehearsed. The script only included chants of “Jai Bhavani” and “Har Har Mahadev,” but Kaushal’s raw, improvised delivery was retained by director Laxman Utekar for its authenticity and emotional impact.
- CBFC Modifications: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) required several changes to Chhaava to secure its U/A 16+ certification. Notable alterations included:
- Replacing the dialogue “Mughal sultanat ka zehar” (The venom of the Mughal Empire) with a neutral line about rulers fighting for survival.
- Changing “Khoon toh aakhir Mughalon ka hi hai” (The blood is of the Mughals after all) to “Khoon toh hai Aurang ka hi” (The blood is of Aurang’s after all).
- Muting words like “haramzaadon” and “haramzaada,” replacing “Aameen” with “Jai Bhavani,” and removing a scene of Maratha warriors clad in sarees.
- Adjusting age references, such as changing “16 saal” to “14 saal” and “22 saal ka ladka” to “24 saal ka ladka.”
- Adding an audio-text disclaimer stating the film’s source (the novel Chava) and clarifying it does not intend to defame or distort historical facts.
- Ajay Devgn’s Voiceover: Ajay Devgn provided a voiceover for Chhaava, recorded in the final week before release. This was a last-minute addition to enhance the film’s narrative, completed in February 2025.
- Aurangzeb’s Prayer Callus Inconsistency: A subtle detail noticed by some viewers is that the prayer callus (mark on the forehead from frequent prayer) on Aurangzeb’s character, played by Akshaye Khanna, changes in shape, size, and placement throughout the movie. This inconsistency adds an unintentional layer of intrigue to his portrayal.
- VFX and Post-Production: The film’s visual effects were handled by Assemblage Entertainment and ReDefine, with supervisors Gary Brown, Simon Frame, and Somesh Samit Ghosh. Filming wrapped in May 2024, followed by extensive post-production to create the grand battle sequences and historical settings, contributing to the film’s epic scale.
- Historical Controversy: Chhaava faced criticism for historical inaccuracies, such as depicting Sambhaji as claiming Marathas didn’t fight Mughals, which contradicts historical records. The film also omits aspects of Sambhaji’s life, like his brief defection to the Mughals and indulgent lifestyle, to focus on his heroism. These liberties sparked debates on platforms like Reddit, with some urging viewers to read history books for a fuller picture.
- Political Backlash and Riots: Post-release, Chhaava was accused of fueling anti-Muslim sentiment, drawing comparisons to films like The Kashmir Files. Politicians like Abu Azmi and Asaduddin Owaisi praised Aurangzeb, prompting backlash from right-wing Hindu groups like Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. This led to riots in Nagpur on March 17, 2025, with threats to demolish Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, highlighting the film’s polarizing impact.
- A.R. Rahman’s Score Criticism: Despite A.R. Rahman’s acclaimed reputation, the film’s background score received mixed feedback. Some viewers felt it didn’t match the tone of key scenes, with suggestions that composers like Ajay-Atul might have better suited the film’s intense Maratha narrative. However, posts on X praised the score, showing divided opinions.
- Stuntmen’s Dedication: During the trailer launch, Vicky Kaushal highlighted the stuntmen’s commitment, noting they worked through Ramadan without food or water to execute the film’s demanding action sequences, showcasing their dedication to depicting Sambhaji’s glory.
- Box Office Success Amid Mixed Reviews: Chhaava earned between ₹783 crore (US$91 million) and ₹807.40 crore (US$94 million) globally, making it a commercial success. However, it received mixed reviews, with critics praising Vicky Kaushal’s performance (rated among his finest) but critiquing the film’s pacing, historical liberties, and overly violent climax, likened to “torture porn” in some reviews.