Review : Kesari Veer : A Tale of Bravery That Misses the Mark!

Today’s audiences expect historical films to be grand, emotional, and realistic. Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath, directed by #PrinceDhiman, tells the story of bravery and faith, but loses its impact due to overuse of action and visual effects.
The film follows Hamirji Gohil (#SoorajPancholi), a Rajput warrior and the younger brother of Mokhadaji Gohil, who fights to protect villagers from Muslim invaders.

These enemies are shown torturing people, especially women, while trying to take control of Hindu lands. During one such fight, Hamirji meets Rajal (#AkankshaSharma), a brave woman also trying to save others. Together, they stand against the cruelty. Meanwhile, a powerful Sultan plans to destroy the holy Somnath Temple and loot its treasure of gold. He sends Zafar Khan (#VivekOberoi), a ruthless warrior, to lead the attack. Their army destroys Shiva temples, even throwing Shivlings down mountains, creating terror. In one of these villages lives Vagdaji (#SunielShetty), a fierce Shiva devotee who rises to defend his faith. From here, the story turns to intense battle scenes and multiple failed attempts by the Sultan’s army to conquer Somnath Temple.

Vivek Oberoi stands out as Zafar Khan. His powerful screen presence, controlled expressions, and strong villainous aura remind viewers of Padmaavat’s Khilji. He’s easily one of the highlights of the film.
Suniel Shetty, as Vagdaji, delivers a solid and emotional performance. But the slow-motion, overdone stunts he’s given feel unnecessary and could have been more grounded.
Sooraj Pancholi puts in a good effort but lacks the depth and intensity needed for a heroic figure like Hamirji. His action scenes are decent, but emotionally, he falls short.

Surprisingly, Akanksha Sharma, in her debut, shines brightly. She’s graceful, confident, and delivers natural expressions. She holds her ground even in scenes with experienced actors and shows great promise.

However, the film falters in originality. Several scenes in the first half feel heavily inspired by Baahubali, from dramatic entries to war sequences. This takes away from the uniqueness of the story. Visually, the movie is uneven. Some shots look rich and grand, while others are clearly made on green screens, making the scenes look fake. A more realistic look and smoother editing would have helped. The music, on the other hand, is well done.

Kesari Veer is a story full of courage and devotion, with strong performances by Vivek Oberoi, Akanksha Sharma, and Suniel Shetty. But its emotional depth is lost in too much CGI, over-the-top action, and weak storytelling. It’s a decent one-time watch, especially for fans of patriotic films but it could have been so much more.

**1/2

Team Cine Buster