If you’re in the mood for a loud, old-school action movie with a larger-than-life lead, Chatrapathi (2023) probably popped up on your radar. It’s a 2023 Hindi action film, directed by V. V. Vinayak, starring Bellamkonda Sreenivas in his Hindi lead debut, and it hit theaters on May 12, 2023.
It’s also a remake of the 2005 Telugu film Chatrapathi, so two kinds of viewers end up here: people who love mass action movies, and people who are curious how the remake turned out. This review is spoiler-free, and it’s written for anyone deciding what to watch next, especially if you want a clear sense of the vibe before you press play.
What Chatrapathi (2023) is about, without spoilers
At its core, Chatrapathi is a “separated family” story wrapped in a hero-driven action setup. As a child, Shivaji gets split from his adoptive mother during a chaotic escape from Pakistan to India. Years pass, and the sfamily searchbecomes the wound that never fully closes.
As Shivaji grows up, he lands in a world where powerful men treat workers like property. People are pushed around, wages are controlled, and fear is part of daily life. Shivaji doesn’t start out trying to be a savior. He’s trying to survive and find his way back to his mother. But when he sees others being crushed, his anger turns into action.
That’s where the title comes in. When Shivaji stands up to the people at the top, the crowd begins to see him differently. He earns the name “Chatrapathi,” not because he asks for it, but because people need someone to push back.
For practical details, it’s widely listed at around two and a half hours (some platforms and listings may show slightly different runtimes). The film is available in Hindi, and it’s also circulated in Telugu in some markets.
The main characters and cast you should know.
- Bellamkonda Sreenivas as Shivaji (Chatrapathi): The center of the film, a tough protector with a personal loss driving him.
- Nushrat Bharucha as Sapna: The romantic lead, mostly there to soften the tone and support Shivaji’s emotional track.
- Sharad Kelkar as Bhavani Prasad Solanki: A key power figure, playing the kind of threat the hero must answer.
- Bhagyashree as Parvati: The mother figure at the heart of Shivaji’s search.
- Karan Singh Chhabra as Ashok: A supporting player tied to the family and conflict threads.
- Freddy Daruwala as Bhairav Solanki: Another menacing presence, used to raise the danger level.
- Rajesh Sharma as Kanthilal: A familiar character actor role that adds texture to the world.
What works and what does not, in plain terms
This is the kind of movie that wants you to cheer. It wants whistles, claps, and “hero entry” excitement. When it sticks to that lane, it cansimply be funny. The action is staged to make the lead look unstoppable, and the story keeps pointing you back to one idea: when the system is rotten, someone has to hit back.
The emotional angle is the other major pillar. The “lost mother” thread gives the film a softer center, and it helps explain why Shivaji’s anger feels personal instead of random. In a few moments, that emotion lands because it’s easy to understand. Anyone who’s ever been separated from family, even briefly, knows that panic.
Where it struggles is the familiar pattern. If you’ve seen a lot of mass action movies, you can predict the emotional beats, the villain’s behavior, and how scenes are built to set up payoffs later. The movie doesn’t always surprise you; it tries to satisfy you.
There’s also a “more is more” approach. More slow-motion, more shouting, more background score cues telling you what to feel. Some viewers love that. Others find it tiring, especially when the story pauses to repeat the same point.
Action, hero moments, and pacing: does it stay fun?
The action is frequent enough that the movie rarely feels quiet for long. You get crowd scenes, confrontations, and fights that are designed around hero moments rather than realism. Think of it like a pro-wrestling vibe in movie form: the moves are big, reactions are bigger, and the audience inside the film behaves like a chorus.
Pacing is where your taste matters most. At around two and a half hours, it can feel stretched if you’re not fully bought into the hero style. Some stretches feel like they’re building heat for the next blow-up, but the build can run long. If you enjoy “set up, speech, fight, repeat,” you’ll be fine. If you want a tighter action ride, you’ll notice the length.
Performances and villain impact: who stands out?
Bellamkonda Sreenivas commits to the role. He’s playing a man who carries pain and pride at the same time, and he sells the physical side of the character well. He looks comfortable being the center of a loud movie.
The villains are drawn in bold strokes, and that’s intentional. Sharad Kelkar brings presence, and the supporting antagonists help keep pressure on the hero. The film isn’t trying to make you sympathize with them; it wants you to want their defeat.
If you like checking the wider critical reaction, The Hindu’s review of Chatrapathi captures why some reviewers felt the remake plays it safe.
Music, songs, and overall vibe
The soundtrack is composed by Tanishk Bagchi, and the film uses songs the way many mainstream Hindi action films do: as energy boosts, romance breaks, and breathers between conflict spikes.
A few tracks you’ll likely notice:
- “Bareilly Ke Bazaar” (a full-on crowd-pleaser style song)
- “Shukriya” (more romantic and softer)
- “Window Taley” (lighter, built for momentum)
The overall vibe is glossy and loud. Even when the story talks about hardship, the presentation stays heightened, like the film is always aiming for a “big” feeling rather than a grounded one.
Do the songs help the story or slow it down?
Here’s the simplest way to judge it: if you enjoy song breaks in action movies, they’ll work as palate cleansers. If you want the conflict to keep moving without pauses, the songs may feel like speed bumps.
None of the tracks are there to change the story; they’re there to change the mood. If you accept that, they’re easier to enjoy.
Should you watch Chatrapathi (2023)? Who it is for, and who should skip
Chatrapathi (2023) had a rough run in theaters and is widely reported as a box office disappointment. That matters because it helps set expectations. This isn’t a “must-watch new classic.” It’s more like a familiar comfort meal for fans of a certain flavor.
Watch it if you like:
- Mass action movies with clear heroes and clear villains
- Big speeches, big emotions, and stylized fights
- Remakes, especially if you haven’t seen the 2005 Telugu version
Skip it if you prefer:
- Fresh plots that don’t feel pre-shaped
- Tight, realistic action
- Subtle drama and quieter storytelling
A quick content note for families: expect action violence and intense confrontations. It’s not a gentle movie.
Streaming availability can change by region. The film has been associated with Prime Video in some markets, but US access isn’t always consistent, so it’s worth checking your usual services directly before planning a movie night.
If you love remakes, here is how to approach them
The best way to watch this is as a separate Hindi version, not a replacement for the original. It’s built to deliver the same type of hero story to a different audience, with a different cast and a different music style.
If you haven’t seen the 2005 Telugu film, you may have a smoother time because you won’t be measuring every moment against what you remember. If you have seen the original, it helps to watch with “how does this play in Hindi?” expectations, not “will this beat the first one?”
Conclusion
Chatrapathi (2023) tries to deliver a straight-ahead mix of action, family emotion, and a hero taking on powerful enemies. You’ll get big hero moments and clear moral lines, along with pacing that can feel long if you’re not in the mood for a classic masala setup. The weak box office and mixed reaction don’t erase the film’s appeal for mass action fans, but they do hint at what many viewers found missing. If you watch it, share what you thought, and whether you preferred this version or the original, Chatrapathi is the kind of movie that sparks strong opinions either way.