Kesari Veer review: Suniel Shetty is the only spark in this Chhaava knockoff

India Today

23-05-2025

There are multiple moments in 'Kesari Veer' when you would expect Vicky Kaushal from 'Chhaava' to jump in with his 'Har Har Mahadev' cry. While 'Chhaava', the highest-grossing film of 2025, had its own flaws, the scale, direction, and performances kept viewers engaged. Unfortunately, Suniel Shetty and Sooraj Pancholi's latest release, Kesari Veer, fails in all departments, making it a painful watch.advertisementWe all know there's currently a surge of historical films with religious undertones in cinema, and this Prince Dhiman-directed drama follows suit. The first 30 minutes of the film set the tone for the impending battle between the Tughlaqs and the Hindu rulers. Enter Hamirji Gohil (Pancholi), a rebel prince and saviour of the oppressed. During one of his espionage missions, he encounters Rajal (newcomer Akanksha Sharma), and after a few slow-motion romantic moments, the two fall in love.Suniel Shetty as Vegdaji, her adoptive father, is a Shiv Bhakt, and also gets to carry the Shiv Ling la Baahubali. We are soon introduced to Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi), the vicious and maniacal ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, who kills without a flinch. The character is half Khilji, half Aurangzeb, but the thick, unkempt beard just made Vivek look repulsive. But just like other rulers from the kingdom, he enjoys a lavish life, wines and dines with beautiful women, while loathing the kaafirs.advertisement
The story of warriors who fought to protect the Somnath Temple hasn't been depicted on screen before. While the makers had a promising concept, they failed in execution. The plot gets diluted by forced subplots - romance, family drama, and religious devotion - all stuffed into one narrative. The CGI is shoddy, almost laughable, and the performances are dismissive. None of the songs leave an impression, and even the fight sequences, stylised it with high-speed movements, lack impact. The last few scenes absolutely look like a pirated, low-res version of 'Chhaava', without its impact. The editing department could have easily chopped half of the film, mostly in the first half, to have presentable content. As for the performances, the less said, the better. Suniel Shetty is the only one who brings some gravitas to the screen, while Vivek Oberoi is wasted in a poorly written role. Sooraj Pancholi channels Salman Khan from Veer, and Akanksha pouts and squints her way through the film. Kiran Kumar, however, is a pleasant surprise as a Delhi ruler, but it's heartbreaking to see how the makers insulted veteran Aruna Irani by casting her in a minuscule part.Where 'Kesari Veer' truly frustrates is in its inauthenticity. Sooraj almost mouths Shah Rukh Khan's dialogues — 'haar ke jeetne waale ko baazigar' and 'ek aadmi ka sar do jagah jhukta hai'. The dialogues are so wispy compared to other historical films, and the delivery is abominable. The way the actors move and speak seems so contemporary, mainly the younger ones, making them look like SoBo kids in a school play.By the end of Kesari Veer, you ironically start feeling bad for the team, who went through such a strenuous time making this film. We wish they had a vision. And the only person you actually want to be angry with is yourself, for choosing to watch this film. (Well, we did it for you guys.) 2.5 out of 5 stars to Kesari Veer.Must Watch