Kesari Veer Review: Sooraj Pancholi's Comeback Marred By Weak Story And Poor VFX

News18

23-05-2025

Last Updated:
Kesari Veer Movie Review: Despite its noble intention to celebrate a forgotten hero, the film ends up being a noisy, disjointed and exhausting experience.
Kesari Veer Movie Review: Kesari Veer, which marks Sooraj Pancholi's return to the big screen, is a 2-hour 41-minute historical drama intended to pay tribute to Veer Hamirji Gohil, the brave warrior who defended the Somnath Temple against the Tughlaq Empire. Unfortunately, the film falls woefully short of doing justice to his legacy.
Directed and written by Prince Dhiman, the film suffers from a serious lack of vision and coherence. The storytelling is fragmented, the characters are underdeveloped, and the overall execution is confused. The narrative struggles to engage the audience right from the beginning and fails to create an emotional or intellectual connection with the viewer. As a result, the plot, despite being based on a legendary real-life hero, feels tedious and uninspiring.
The direction appears heavily compromised, possibly due to budget constraints. The film attempts to emulate the grandeur of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali production but falls drastically short. The visual effects and graphics are poorly executed, giving a cartoonish feel to many important sequences. Instead of enhancing the drama or battle scenes, the VFX undermines them, drawing unwanted attention to the film's limitations.
One of the most jarring aspects of Kesari Veer is its excessive and unnecessary use of music. The background score is loud and intrusive, often overshadowing the dialogues and scenes it is meant to support. The numerous songs scattered throughout the narrative add little value and instead contribute to the film's already dragging pace. Filmmakers must realise that quantity does not equate to quality especially when the songs interrupt rather than elevate the storytelling.
The performances, too, leave much to be desired. Sooraj Pancholi, in his comeback role, is given ample screen time, with clear attempts made to showcase him as the central force. However, his portrayal lacks energy and charisma, even in action-heavy sequences. While his efforts are visible, they do not translate into a memorable performance.
Vivek Oberoi, cast as the antagonist, delivers a performance that feels like an imitation of Ranveer Singh's Alauddin Khilji from Padmaavat, minus the depth or menace. Suniel Shetty's presence, which could have added gravitas, also fails to uplift the narrative. Newcomer Akanksha Sharma receives limited screen time and is unable to make an impact.
The weak writing and unimpressive dialogues further pull down any potential the cast might have had to elevate the screenplay. The lack of character arcs and emotional depth makes it difficult for the audience to invest in their journeys or outcomes.
Overall, Kesari Veer is a disappointing film that fails on multiple fronts be it storytelling, performances, direction or technical execution. Despite its noble intention to celebrate a forgotten hero, the film ends up being a noisy, disjointed and exhausting experience. It lacks the finesse, emotion and coherence that such a historical story deserves.
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