Raja Shivaji

“This Riteish Deshmukh Film Isn't Always As Sharp As Its Tiger Claw But Has Moments”

“Riteish Deshmukh plays Chhatrapati Shivaji with sincerity. Abhishek Bachchan leaves a mark as Shivaji's older brother, as does Sanjay Dutt in full Khalnayak mode. However, it's Salman Khan who steals the entire film in a tiny cameo.”

“The film's strongest pillar is its emotional honesty. Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh approaches Shivaji Maharaj's story with visible respect and restraint, never allowing spectacle to overpower sentiment. The storytelling feels rooted, and that sincerity reflects in every frame.”

“RAJA SHIVAJI pays a fine ode to one of India's greatest kings”

“Raja Shivaji may not be a flawless or definitive cinematic portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but it succeeds in capturing the emotional core the makers aimed for. Despite its technical shortcomings, the film delivers enough impact to make it a worthwhile watch.”

“Divided into eight chapters, Raja Shivaji is a good watch for the weekend. It shows you the side of the king that movies on him have seldom explored in the recent past. And it is a film where Riteish the director shines more than Riteish the actor.”

“A golden page from Shivaji-era history! Grand sets, powerful dialogue and action scenes; how is 'Raja Shivaji'?”

“Overall, Raja Shivaji is a sincere and ambitious attempt at telling an important story. It is not without flaws, mainly its pacing, but it delivers enough strong moments and a committed central performance to make it worth watching.”

“Ritesh Deshmukh has done good work in Marathi cinema before, but this time he has won the hearts of the audience not just as an actor, but also as a writer and director.”

“Raja Shivaji is a masterclass because it understands human stakes. It breaks the myth that historical films need not be loud to be effective. By focusing on the Maavalas as much as it focuses on the dream of Swarajya, Riteish Deshmukh makes the story relatable to the 21st-century audience.”

“This epic drama starring Riteish Deshmukh is more admirable than riveting.”

“Raja Shivaji is the kind of film that wanted to tell this extraordinary hero's tale with untamed gusto, but the tragedy is that it only ever looks the part. Narratively and emotionally, the scale never truly materialises, and with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as your subject, adequacy is simply not enough. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's story deserves cinema that roars as loudly as the man himself did, but Raja Shivaji honours him without yet doing him justice.”

“Not perfect. Soap-style flaws, abrupt action, and logical gaps persist. But the heroism, the climax, and the sheer cultural weight of Shivaji Maharaj make you clap, roar, and cheer anyway.”

“In words, visuals, and historical substance—on all three levels, the cinema falls short of reaching its heights. As a director, Ritesh Deshmukh's ambition is clearly felt; but it is not answered in that way on screen.”

“Riteish Deshmukh delivers scale, sincerity and Maratha spirit in an ode to Chhatrapati Maharaj, though the film navigates through the Maratha founder's legacy with mixed results.”

“Riteish Deshmukh's Shivaji may not be a flawless portrayal, but remains engaging throughout. Director Riteish Deshmukh does a solid job of laying out the many characters and their storylines in a clear and connected way. The drama builds up to a gripping extended climax that runs for nearly 30 minutes, capturing both the tension and intensity of Afzal Khan's meeting with Shivaji Maharaj.”

“Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji stages Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's rise with scale and conviction. The film draws strength from its action and performances, even as the screenplay lacks precision.”

“With its magnificent visuals, looks like a fortune has been spent on the film. But lavishness alone cannot make the film survive, the storytelling needs to be sharp to engage the audiences.”

“Occasionally mesmerising, largely laborious”

“Contemporary Indian cinema has increasingly leaned toward grand period pieces, often drawing from epics, like Namit Malhotra's upcoming Ramayana (2026), recounting the legacy of historical figures, making films loosely connected to real life with the suffix 'files', or revisiting fraught political narratives involving India and Pakistan. In such a landscape, invoking a towering figure like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj raises many questions, particularly when present-day tensions seem to shape the storytelling lens.”

“Through his direction, Ritesh has proved that he is not just a good actor, but also a capable director who doesn't buckle under pressure. This can be called the most daring and successful venture in his career.”

“Heavy on technical aspects, the movie is grand and stylish, with less substance.”

“Riteish Deshmukh’s expensive historical drama is another critic-proof and soundproof salute to the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”

“Deshmukh remains largely content with glorifying the king rather than inquiring into the nature of his glory. 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.”