Who was Shivaji? It is a question rooted more in historical enquiry than heroic pride. Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji attempts to answer that question but remains largely content with glorifying the Maratha warrior king rather than inquiring into the nature of his glory. The lengthy historical remains effective in parts, but never fully soars.
The Plot
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Time Period | Mid-sixteenth century |
| Protagonist | Shivaji (Riteish Deshmukh) |
| Antagonist | Afzal Khan (Sanjay Dutt), Adil Shahi commander |
| Core Theme | Rise of Shivaji to establish self-rule (Swarajya) |
In the mid-sixteenth century, a young Shivaji rises up to conquer enemy territory and establish self-rule as he battles the Adil Shahi commander Afzal Khan.
What Works
| Aspect | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cinematography (Santosh Sivan) | Mindfully shot; flickering lighting and shadows add dimensionality |
| Final Act | Builds excitement for Shivaji’s tactical brilliance against Afzal Khan |
| Afzal Khan Sequence | The mythologised confrontation is the film’s highlight |
| Avoidance of Binary Rift | Doesn’t excessively villainise Muslim rulers (unlike some recent films) |
| Sanjay Dutt | Instils peak villainy ethos into Afzal Khan |
Deshmukh shows some willingness to understand the core of the Maratha king. It is the much mythologised confrontation between Afzal Khan and Shivaji that sets the film back into action after a series of lethargic sequences midway. Deshmukh shows promise as a director in these portions, focusing on smaller details which are blended well with the editing.
What Doesn’t Work
| Aspect | Critique |
|---|---|
| Length | Runtime of 3 hours 15 minutes; lethargic sequences midway |
| Screen Presence | Deshmukh doesn’t quite match popular memory of Shivaji |
| One-Dimensional Portrayal | Focuses on glorification rather than genuine enquiry |
| Caricatured Villains | Shah Jahan reduced to caricature; Adil Shahi rulers as brainless buffoons |
| Missing Depth | The king’s multi-cultural army and his letter to Aurangzeb remain unexplored |
Deshmukh takes a long time to reveal the adult version of Shivaji as myth-making takes precedence over emotional resonance. It becomes difficult to imagine Deshmukh as the Maratha chieftain even though the actor remains earnest in his portrayal. His screen presence doesn’t quite match the popular memory of the king.
The Performances
- Riteish Deshmukh: Earnest in his portrayal, but struggles with the weight of the iconic role
- Abhishek Bachchan: Sincere as Sambhaji Bhosle (Shivaji’s brother)
- Sanjay Dutt: Brings his signature villainy to Afzal Khan
- Sachin Khedekar: Competent as Shahji Bhosle (Shivaji’s father)
The Verdict
Deshmukh shows promise as a director, particularly in the final confrontation sequence. However, the portrayal of Shivaji barely scratches the surface. The efforts of making a conventional biopic convert the historical icon into a one-dimensional hero, fighting a generic good vs evil battle as the aesthetics genuflect in his honour.
As the film ends with slogans in honour of Shivaji, the question still prevails: who really was Shivaji?
