Raja Shivaji Teaser: Riteish Deshmukh's Ambitious Bet Falls Short

Riteish Deshmukh brings earnestness to the role, but the gravitas of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj calls for a towering presence, resonant voice and sharp, piercing gaze, which are somewhat missing in Raja Shivaji, notes Mayur Sanap.

The larger-than-life persona of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has always carried a natural cinematic pull.

As the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire, his life story is seen with a lot of reverence, and it is no surprise that filmmakers return to this subject to present a fresh perspective.

Over the years, several actors have portrayed Shivaji Maharaj in different ways. Performances by Sharad Kelkar in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, as well as Chinmay Mandlekar and Subodh Bhave in Marathi films Sher Shivraj and Har Har Mahadev respectively have set the bar higher.

With Raja Shivaji, Riteish Deshmukh steps into this iconic role while also directing the film, making it his second directorial venture after Ved.

At its core, Raja Shivaji carries immense potential. It tells the story of a legendary figure whose journey deserves to be known across generations. The intent behind making the film bilingual, in Marathi and Hindi, is clearly to bring this important story to a wider audience, and that effort deserves appreciation.

Riteish has already proved himself as a bankable leading man in Marathi cinema with films like Lai Bhaari, Mauli, and Ved, and taking on the role of Shivaji Maharaj feels like both an ambitious and challenging bet.

Raja Shivaji Teaser: A Powerful Story

From what we see in its two-and-half-minute teaser, Raja Shivaji takes a more grounded approach in its storytelling with more focus on the characters.

It chronicles the rise of the Maratha warrior king to the founder of the Maratha empire as he fought to establish Swarajya (self-rule). It showcases the tumultuous chapter from the history with the Marathas going toe-to-toe against the Bijapur sultanate and the Mughal empire.

But the casting is a mixed bag.

Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan is such an uninspired casting choice! His antagonist here feels all-too-familiar especially after his role of Ahmad Shah Abdali in Panipat. The same goes for Marathi veterans Sachin Khedekar and Jitendra Joshi, who seem to be playing the version of roles they have played many times before.

On the other hand, Vidya Balan stepping into a darker role certainly adds curiosity. When I read up the cast list, I initially assumed she might be portraying Jijabai, but the teaser shows Bhagyashree in the role of Maharaj's mother.

Abhishek Bachchan is presented in an angry man avatar as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, Shivaji Maharaj's elder brother. The character shouldn't be confused with Vicky Kaushal's portrayal in Laxman Utekar's Chhaava, which was based on Maharaj's son and the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire, Sambhaji Maharaj.

Riteish Deshmukh as Shivaji Maharaj: Lacks A Punch

Riteish breaks the rut of his usual light-hearted films and takes on what seems to be his most demanding role yet.

The teaser shows his earnestness, but the gravitas of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj calls for a towering presence, resonant voice and sharp, piercing gaze, which felt somewhat missing in his portrayal.

Hopefully, the film will have a different impression of him.

Interestingly, the teaser lands better in Marathi than Hindi, especially with the way the actors deliver their dramatic dialogues. But Genelia Deshmukh's Marathi diction as Saibai Bhonsale, Maharaj's wife, carries the same awkwardness as seen in Ved. She looks lovely, though.

Star Cast and Scale: Falls Short of Grandness

Stories like this are inherently violent, but unlike the stylised violence seen in Chhaava, this film appears to keep the action choreography more restrained in its treatment of gore and violence. That could work in its favour, though it also risks feeling less dramatic for viewers expecting a larger-than-life spectacle.

On the technical front, Raja Shivaji raises some concerns.

The visual effects, in parts, seem uneven, with noticeable green screen usage. There is also a certain lack of grandeur that audiences have come to expect from the genre, especially after films by directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowariker, who are known for their scale and grandness.

For Marathi audiences, this toned-down approach may feel acceptable, but Hindi viewers might find it less visually impressive.

The music in the teaser, composed by Ajay-Atul, is definitely a strong point of anticipation, as their work has often elevated stories as seen in films like Sairat, Natarang and Bollywood hits like Agneepath, Tanhaji, and Dhadak.

If anything, Raja Shivaji is poised to be their grand comeback, and I am all for it!

Raja Shivaji is set to release on Maharashtra Day, May 1.