While the box office collection of Chatrapathi on its first day might be an indication of the initial response, it is important to wait and see how it performs in the coming days.
This Hindi remake of the Telugu blockbuster starring Prabhas lacks creativity and appears to be a mere dubbed version of the original film.
Chatrapathi can elicit a similar feeling of discomfort as stumbling upon old photos or documents that remind us of our past flaws. It serves as a reminder of the overly-spiced masala films we used to consume without realizing how it affected our cinematic palate. 
Chatrapathi, a remake of the Telugu blockbuster starring Prabhas, offers a fresh perspective on the cinematic brilliance of the duo of S.S. Rajamouli and V.Vijayendra Prasad, who crafted this gem long before the Baahubali franchise.
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In the film industry, once a filmmaker establishes their dominance at the box office, producers tend to repackage even their older works to attract unsuspecting audiences. Despite the Hindi-dubbed version of Chatrapathi being readily available online, the makers have hired director V.V. Vinayak to remake the 2005 film in 2023. However, the time gap is evident on the screen, and the final product feels outdated. Strangely, the lack of re-imagination makes the remake appear more like a dubbed version.
Chatrapathi
Director: V.V. Vinayak
Story: V. Vijayendra Prasad
Cast: Sai Sreenivas Bellamkonda, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Bhagyashree, Sharad Kelkar, Karan Singh Chhabra
The original Chatrapathi features a Nirupa Roy-like mother, a selfless brother taking care of his conniving step-sibling, and the struggles of migrants, all of which have the potential to evoke melodrama. However, the shallow execution of the subject matter fails to connect with the audience on an emotional level. Despite the excessive violence and explosive action sequences, the lack of a strong emotional hook makes it difficult to remain invested in the film.
Chatrapathi often seems to prioritize showcasing biceps and snarling faces over any other aspect of the film. Additionally, the camera frequently lingers on cleavage shots. The movie relies heavily on the use of formulaic ‘item’ emotions, which can make the loop of action, dialogue, and song sequences feel predictable and repetitive.
The Telugu original Chatrapathi had the potential to generate a melodramatic swell with its depiction of a Nirupa Roy-like mother, a selfless brother, a cunning step-sibling, and the struggles of migrants. However, the shallow treatment of the subject leaves viewers feeling unsatisfied. While the violence and action sequences are intense, they lack the emotional hook necessary to keep viewers invested. The film also tends to prioritize showcasing biceps and snarling faces over other aspects, with the camera frequently lingering on cleavage shots.
Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas lacks the charismatic screen presence of Prabhas, and struggles to make viewers forget the gaps in the screenplay and root for his character, Shiva. Although he growls well, that’s about the extent of his performance. Nushrratt Bharuccha appears in three songs and only a few scenes, and Sharad Kelkar’s portrayal of the villain deserved more screen time. Bhagyashri, who plays the hapless mother, hardly seems to fit the part and often fails to see the obvious. Overall, the Chatrapathi remake fails to offer anything new or innovative, and feels like a dated and predictable retread of the original.
Watch it only if you want to go back in time to find the trash we left behind.
Chhatrapthi is currently running in theatres
V.V. Vinayak directed the Chatrapathi remake, which is written by V. Vijayendra Prasad, who is known for his work as a writer on films like the Baahubali series, RRR, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The movie was touted to be a grand-scale production, similar to the original film.
