Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra Review: Heroic Escape Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj With Dramatic Exaggeration

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ✨ 2.5/5*

Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra Review Movie Talkies:

Show me anything on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and I will like it. There is absolutely nothing to dislike in the life of this legend. Every chapter, every heroic moment, every move, every lesson — it’s all extraordinary. The only problem here is my cinematic understanding, which forces me to judge films on technical grounds, and that is where this one falls short. By now, Digpal Lanjekar has gained enough experience, yet he still hasn’t been able to mount a film on the scale of Baahubali, Tanhaji or Chhaava — despite the fact that every chapter from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life is bigger than all three films combined. The vision often feels restricted to a daily-soap style execution. Maybe that’s why his films didn't reach greater heights and wider audiences. The over-dramatic sequences, extended versions of brief stories we read in school textbooks, and the serial-type treatment have been hurting his films consistently. It’s time that changes.

I genuinely enjoyed some of his earlier works, especially the films on saints, which were better crafted but had limited appeal. Stories of Shivaji Maharaj and his Mavalas have massive appeal, yet they don’t receive complete justice on the big screen. Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra suffers from the same issue. The greatest escape you’ll ever witness — Hollywood has made a classic with this english title — yet, I say our Raje’s story is far superior. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reach its full cinematic potential.

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Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra Story:

The film begins with the Treaty of Purandar (1665) between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mirza Raje Jaisingh. One of the treaty’s conditions was Shivaji Maharaj’s visit to Agra to meet Aurangzeb during his 50th birthday celebrations. Aurangzeb clearly has hidden motives, but he underestimates Shivaji Maharaj’s intelligence and strategic brilliance — qualities that repeatedly outmatched the Mughal empire. What follows is a chapter we all know, yet the film attempts to dramatize it for the big screen.

The runtime is excessively long and honestly didn’t need to be. Learning this story in a 4th standard history book felt more engaging than watching it stretched beyond two and a half hours. The Marathi blockbuster Me Shivaji Raje Bhosale Boltoy (2009) presented this entire episode in a brief 10-minute segment, and that was more impactful than this full-length film. When adapting a well-known historical episode into a feature film, creative liberties are inevitable. Some additions and fictionalization are necessary to build a 150-minute narrative. However, Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra overdoes it. Without revealing spoilers, several scenes feel unnecessarily melodramatic, opera-like, and stretched beyond requirement. This has been a recurring issue across Lanjekar’s Shivrajashtak series. That said, there are positives. The portrayal of Shivaji Maharaj and his Mavalas is unapologetically heroic. Not once do you feel awkward or uncomfortable. He is shown as a Lion — the undisputed King of the jungle. No compromises, no apologies. And honestly, that’s exactly how I want to see my king on screen.

Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra Cast:

Performance-wise, the film ranges from subpar to decent. Abhijeet Shwetachandra as Shivaji Maharaj is acceptable but doesn’t match the impact Chinmay Mandlekar previously delivered. Mrinal Kulkarni performs well, Puneet Issar is effective, and Sameer Dharmadhikari stands out — especially in the final dialogue, which gives goosebumps. Digpal Lanjekar makes a full-fledged acting debut in this installment and performs fairly well. Prasanna Ketkar, Rishi Saxena, Nikhil Raut, Smita Shewale, and Ajay Purkar are adequate in their respective roles.

Ranapati Shivray Swari Agra Movie Review:

The title track is impressive and stays with you, while the rest of the songs are forgettable. Technically, the film has decent support — cinematography, art design, and sound design are satisfactory. However, the action sequences lack impact and the editing needed to be crisper. As a director, Digpal Lanjekar must understand the difference between television storytelling and cinematic storytelling. Not every intense scene needs slow motion and loud background music. Not every emotional moment should be stretched. Predictability, when prolonged, weakens audience engagement. These patterns have repeated throughout the series. None of his films are bad — they are watchable — but expectations are always higher when it comes to Shivaji Maharaj. This turns out to be another average effort. I sincerely hope someone eventually does complete justice to the stature and legacy of our Janata Raja with a grand, visionary approach. It’s not an easy task — even uttering the name of Shivaji Maharaj gives me goosebumps. Making a film on him must be an enormous responsibility. I can feel the pressure.

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