Raja Shivaji Movie Review: Despite having it all, something remains incomplete—how is Riteish Deshmukh's 'Raja Shivaji'?

A single film featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Vidya Balan, Sachin Khedekar, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Bhagyashree. On top of that, there is a cameo appearance by superstar Salman Khan. It is a Marathi-language film that narrates the heroic saga of Veer Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Marathas—a film that has also been directed by a Marathi filmmaker. With music by Ajay-Atul and a budget of ₹100 crore, it stands as the most expensive Marathi film ever made. Not just one—there are numerous reasons compelling you to go and watch this film in a theater... yet, despite all these elements, there remains a certain emptiness within the film. What is it? Let's find out.

**The Story**
For Marathi audiences, the film's story is a familiar tale; however, if you are a Hindi speaker, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of this historical period. To achieve this, the writers conducted extensive research; the narrative begins with the birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (Riteish Deshmukh) and culminates in the death of Afzal Khan (Sanjay Dutt). Furthermore, all the characters have been presented effectively.

**Acting**

Portraying this character was a monumental responsibility for Riteish Deshmukh, and alongside it, he also took the helm as the film's director. Riteish gave his absolute best in both capacities. While he delivers a powerful performance in the film, he falls just short of reaching the benchmark previously set by Sharad Kelkar in *Har Har Mahadev* and *Tanhaji*, Ajay Devgn in *Tanhaji*, Ranveer Singh in *Bajirao Mastani*, and Vicky Kaushal in *Chhava*. One reason for this is that we have grown so accustomed to seeing Riteish in comedic roles that it takes some time to fully accept him in the persona of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Nevertheless, this can certainly be hailed as the finest performance of his career.

Salman Khan's cameo undoubtedly elicits whistles and cheers from the audience, yet he isn't given much to actually *do* in the film. It would have been truly delightful had they included even just one or two action sequences featuring him. As for Sanjay Dutt, you have seen him in similar roles before; his performance here offers nothing particularly extraordinary. However, this role of his is significantly better than the one he played in *Panipat*.

Abhishek Bachchan delivers a solid performance. After a long time, he has finally landed a role that truly suits him. Fardeen Khan, Vidya Balan, and Bhagyashree have portrayed their respective characters admirably. Genelia Deshmukh made a concerted effort to maintain a serious demeanor; while she looked beautiful, she appeared to be overacting in certain sequences. The rest of the cast members have done full justice to their roles.

**Direction**

Ritesh has invested a staggering ₹100 crore into this project, making it the most expensive Marathi film to date. Surprisingly, despite this massive budget, the film's VFX appears lackluster in several places. The first half of the film reflects immense effort, giving the characters ample space to develop and allowing their arcs to be explored effectively. The second half, however, wraps up just as abruptly. Had Ritesh made a few more astute creative choices, this film could have been truly memorable.

**Music**

Ajay-Atul’s music never disappoints. Here, too, the score helps you truly *feel* every scene and keeps you thoroughly immersed in the film.

**Watch It or Skip It?**
It is definitely worth watching in a theater at least once. The film offers plenty of new insights and learning experiences. If you overlook a few minor flaws, it provides an enjoyable cinematic experience—though, when watching films of this caliber, one naturally expects nothing short of excellence.

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