Fahad Sheikh

My Review of Chhaava (2025) What a powerful and emotional movie. Chhaava left a deep impact on me. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was truly a brave and dignified leader—someone who stood firmly for his principles, even in the face of death. His strength, courage, and sacrifice were shown beautifully in the film, and it made me respect him even more as a historical figure. As a Muslim, I want to say this clearly: not every Muslim ruler is worth admiring just because of their religion. Aurangzeb, for example, is often seen as a strong emperor, but in reality, he was far from what Islam teaches. He may have been a Muslim by name, but his actions—filled with violence, injustice, and lust for power—went completely against the peaceful and just teachings of Islam. Akshaye Khanna’s performance as Aurangzeb was phenomenal. The way he portrayed the coldness, ego, and cruelty of Aurangzeb’s character was just brilliant. It made you feel uncomfortable—in a good way—because that’s exactly how that ruler should make people feel. When I think of true Muslim leaders, I think of people like Salahuddin Ayubi, who was known for his kindness, mercy, and justice—even towards his enemies. He showed the world what real Islamic leadership looks like. He was brave, but also fair and humble. There were others too—leaders who stood for truth, protected people regardless of religion, and followed the values of Islam with heart and soul. Aurangzeb was not like them. He ruled with fear, not with fairness. He wanted control, not peace. This movie made me reflect even more on that difference. As for the film itself—amazing. Vicky Kaushal gave a powerful performance as Sambhaji Maharaj. You could feel the emotions in every scene. The direction, cinematography, dialogues, and especially the background score—they were all top-notch. A.R. Rahman's music added another layer of emotion to the story. This is not just a film, it’s a reminder of the past, and it makes you think deeply about leadership, sacrifice, and what it really means to stand for what’s right.