I don't know why I'm writing this so long after re-watching Chatrapathi. I re-watched it probably at the end of September.

Anyways, this was not a re-watch. Because, the first time and the second time I watched were in Hindi with scenes cut and bleh, and the feel was good enough but not even close to what I felt this time.

I watched it on Hotstar, with subtitles.

I was left so dumbfounded, I couldn't even close to believe, that a movie as such was created in 2005 by SSR, and Prabhas did a role as Shivaji.

Most of the movie I cried because that was meant to be.
Shivaji had a unusual silence that was heartrending.
He was a storm in himself, hence the calm.

Some scenes were just unreal. Like the one in which the kid lay, and no one dared to step inside the circle to save him.
Shivaji screamed for the first time. The outburst. That intensity.

Also, every action scene was like so paced, violent, gore, yet the audience would be like yes, Shivaji should kill the villain exactly this gruesomely. Such was the connection he managed to create with the audience.

Prabhas is a terrific actor and I believe Chatrapathi is THE best movie of his career. Not in terms of box office but in terms of the scope he was given as an actor and how he utilised it. Bahubali is a magnum opus, Bahubali is a demigod.
Shivaji is one amongst us. People's leader. Fighting for the refugees, being one of them. Chatrapathi.

He nailed even the little scope of romance with Shriya. One of the most sensational chemistry of his career.

SSR has this terrific ability to mould human sentiments in the perfect manner.

The fight a young man continues with unethical rulers like Kaatraj and Bajirao, while still searching insanely for his dearest amma, and then hated terribly and conspired against by step brother
The story stabbed directly at the heart.

Yes it's a smaller version of Bahubali in terms of story, but......

Shivaji is a man next door. His eyes, his helplessness, his being a man of few words but maximum emotions..

The scene where his amma doesn't recognize him, curses him in the hospital and he spends the night beside the sea, only SSR and Prabhas can give life to such scenes.

Also the scene where he makes achaadh on behalf of his amma, the childishness, the simplicity...goosebumps.

SSR wrote a script where everyone was in awe of Shivaji around him, so would have been the audience in 2005.

Literally, I was bowled over by Chatrapathi for like a week. Forgetting Saaho and everything else. 😂😂
Also I wonder how he did movies like Munna, Rebel etc etc after doing Chatrapathi. 😝😝

My Shivaji of 'His Saviour' has nothing except the features of this Shivaji, but yes, I'm smitten by Chatrapathi's Shivaji.

Currently if someone asks me to choose the best character by Prabhas, it'll be Shivaji over Amarendra or Jai. And will continue to be so for a very long time.

And this bg, the best mass bg I've ever heard...

Agni Skalana
Sandhaghdharipu
Varga Pralya Radha Chatrapathi!
Madhyamdhina
Samudhyath Kirana
Vidyuddhumani Khani Chatrapathi!
Thajjem Thajjenu
Thadhim Dhirana
Dhim Dhim Thakita Nata Chatrapathi!
Urvii Valaya
Sambhavyavara
Swacchanda Gunadhi...!!

My advice, if you have time and wish to spare on a movie, do re-watch /watch Chatrapathi on Hotstar.