Kesari Veer Review: Weak Script and Overacted Performances

Kesari Veer Review by Shantishwarup Tripathi

• Rating: ★½ (1.5 stars)
• Producer: Kanu Bhai Chauhan
• Writers: Prince Dhiman and Kshitij Srivastava
• Director: Prince Dhiman
• Cast: Suniel Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi, Vivek Oberoi, Akanksha Sharma, Barkha Bisht, Kiran Kumar, Aruna Irani, and others
• Duration: 2 hours 41 minutes

These days, every filmmaker seems so obsessed with weaving Sanatan Dharma, deities, and nationalism into their films that they end up ruining even a strong historical narrative. Yes! That’s precisely the experience while watching Kesari Veer. The film evokes déjà vu, bringing flashes of Baazigar, Chhava, Padmaavat, RRR, Baahubali, and especially The Flag.

About 10–15 years ago, a film called The Flag was made, starring Ashmit Patel. It was set against the rural backdrop of Kutch and revolved around nationalism and the freedom struggle, portraying the tale of an unsung hero. Several scenes in Kesari Veer, especially those involving the flag, are strikingly similar. Although the time periods of the two films differ, the scenes seem lifted as-is. The Flag had also made its way to several international film festivals, but following the sudden death of its director and producer, the film disappeared from the radar. Ashmit Patel, however, would surely remember it well.

Notably, the first film based on Saurashtra, Gujarat’s valiant warrior Hamirji Gohil, was a 2012 Gujarati movie titled Veer Hamirji, directed by Nilesh Indu Maruti Mohite. It was once under consideration to represent India at the Oscars, but eventually, Bollywood’s Barfi was selected instead. Now, 13 years later, producer-writer and co-director Kanu Bhai Chauhan and his family have revived the same story in Kesari Veer, which released in theatres on May 23. Despite crores being spent on its production, the film received virtually zero promotion.

The film is based on the historical fact that the Somnath temple in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region was attacked and looted seventeen times by foreign invaders. It was repeatedly attempted to be destroyed. The current Somnath temple was rebuilt under the instructions of India’s first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and its consecration ceremony took place in May 1951. In 2009, a statue of Hamirji Gohil was installed near the temple to pay tribute to him.

Kesari Veer Movie Story

Set in the late 14th century, the film tells the tale of the unsung hero Hamirji Gohil (Sooraj Pancholi) and Vegda Ji (Suniel Shetty), two brave warriors who fought against the Tughlaq empire to protect the Somnath temple. Yes, Hamirji Gohil and Vegda Ji—these two fearless warriors of Saurashtra sacrificed their lives protecting their faith and people against the oppression of the Tughlaq dynasty. The story is inspired by widely known historical accounts.

The film opens by narrating the mythological significance of the Somnath temple in Sharad Kelkar’s soothing voice. Soon after, Hamir Ji is introduced, wandering the jungle with a friend when he meets Rajal, who is saving a lion. The two fall in love. It is revealed that Rajal is the daughter of tribal leader Vegda Ji, a devout devotee of Lord Shiva, who is portrayed almost like a sage in demeanor. However, when danger looms, he transforms into a ferocious warrior wielding his axe like Parshuram.

Later, a twist reveals that Rajal’s biological father was actually a Rajput. Meanwhile, Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi), a commander of the Tughlaq army, advances to plunder the Somnath temple. Hamir Ji, Vegda Ji, and others fight against Zafar Khan, ultimately sacrificing their lives.

Review

The filmmaker has tried to capitalize on the current trend of infusing films with patriotic fervor, blending historical facts, legends, and mythology around the Somnath temple to create an entertaining narrative. However, seeking historical accuracy in this fictionalized tale would be futile. The film feels overly theatrical at times and seems to follow a structure similar to Alha Udal ballads.

The director focuses more on invoking nationalistic emotion than developing the story. Valor is constantly emphasized, but is largely depicted through hyper-masculine aggression. While the audience should feel stirred as the Rajput prince Hamir Ji and his companions battle the invading Tughlaq army, the weak screenplay, poor direction, and lethargic performances fail to evoke any emotional depth.

The film lacks vision and coherence. The story is disjointed, characters are underdeveloped, and the execution is confusing. The producer has evidently poured money like water, shooting on visually stunning locations. The cinematographer has tried hard to make every frame picturesque. But despite all this, the film fails. Characters are not fleshed out properly. The action sequences are unimpressive. There is excessive repetition in scenes, and many are over-the-top.

For instance, a scene where Vegda Ji catches a massive Shiva Lingam being hurled from a cliff: first, he stops it mid-air using a trident, and then supports it on his shoulders—eerily reminiscent of Baahubali where Prabhas lifts the Shiva Lingam. The romance between Hamir Ji and Rajal is also poorly developed. It seems the writers and the director didn’t invest in character arcs.

Some scenes defy all logic—for example, after Hamir Ji is beheaded, his severed arms continue to fight with swords. Even more bizarrely, despite having no head, he manages to accurately throw a sword and kill the villain. This scene defies basic reasoning.

In summary, Kesari Veer is a disappointing film that fails on multiple fronts—be it storytelling, acting, direction, or execution.

Acting

Casting Sooraj Pancholi as the 16-year-old Rajput prince Hamir Ji was a complete misfit. His emotional expressions and dialogue delivery don’t land convincingly. Although he shows some prowess in action scenes, his performance lacks depth.

Suniel Shetty, playing Meghraj Vegda Ji, occasionally seems to be repeating himself. In the climax battle, his performance and action remind us of his Border days.

Vivek Oberoi as Zafar Khan is passable. Akanksha Sharma, playing Rajal, looks beautiful but still needs time to make her mark in acting.

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