The historically-inspired action dramas usually resonate with viewers in that they present forgotten stories of bravery and sacrifice onto the big screen. Kesari Veer (2025) promises just this, telling the enthralling tale about Hamirji Gohil, a brave Rajput warrior who fought the formidable Tughlaq Empire to defend his beloved Somnath Temple and Hindu faith. Produced by Prince Dhiman and co-written by Kanubhai Chauhan The film features Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi and Sooraj Pancholi in key roles and released globally on the 23rd of May 2025. This comprehensive review delves into the movie’s many aspects to help readers decide if the story of bravery deserves their attention. SSRmovies.
Kesari Veer (2025)
IMDb: N/A/10 || Size: See below ▼ ||
Genres: Action, Drama, History
Director: Prince Dhiman
Writers: Kanu Chauhan, Shitiz Srivastava
Stars: Sooraj Pancholi, Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi
The movie narrates the tale of Hamirji Gohil, a brave warrior who fought against the Tughlaq Empire to protect the Somnath Temple and the Hindu faith.
Read our full spoiler-free review below.
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Kesari Veer 2025 Movie Review
Plot Summary
The story is set within the period of 14th-century, during the turbulent reign by the Tughlaq dynasty Kesari Veer is the story of Hamirji Gohil (played by Sooraj Pancholi) as the leader of a regional revolt to safeguard the sacredness of the Somnath Temple. The town located in Arthila in Gujarat is the place to launch for Hamirji’s rage in his quest for alliances to thwart the rule of the general Zafar Khan (played by Vivek Oberoi) who enforces the policies of conversion and destroys historic temples.
The narrative reaches its climax in the Somnath Temple in Mahashivratri in which a final battle takes place. Even though Hamirji along with his 200 strong troops face massive odds to defeat the Tughlaq Empire, the story is punctuated by acts of bravery and loyalty. Without divulging any spoilers too much, it’s safe declare the film Kesari Veer is a story of self-sacrificing faith and unwavering sacrifice even though it’s a complex dramatic cinematography.
Character Analysis
Hamirji Gohil (Sooraj Pancholi)
Returning to the stage in this highly challenging part, Pancholi is tasked with portraying a renowned historical persona. He tries his best to portray Hamirji’s relentless spirit although his performance often is a bit over-the-top. However, his physical depiction of the warrior, from combat stances to emotional outbursts is admirable.
Vegdaji (Suniel Shetty)
Suniel Shetty’s long-lasting screen presence lends a heft in the production. As Hamirji’s mentor and all-around ally Vegdaji, Shetty embodies wisdom and strength, giving an impressive performance against the overly-exaggerated narration.
Zafar Khan (Vivek Oberoi)
Vivek Oberoi in the role of antagonist is faced with the difficult task of presenting Zafar Khan’s cruel and brutal persona. Although Oberoi can be effective in certain scenes, the absence of depth in the character of the villain limits his effectiveness, resulting in an uninteresting portrayal.
Direction and Cinematography
The film gains from the direction of Prince Dhiman but the execution seems uneven. Battle scenes that are majorly intense are the area where Dhiman excels, with his vivid and dynamic visuals. But the pace is sluggish in the dramatic dialog-driven scenes that tend to drag on for too long.
Cinematographer Vikas Joshi is able to capture the beauty of Gujarat’s landscape with expansive aerial shots of the temples of the region and battlefields. The film’s color palette blends earthy tones with golden hues that emphasize the richness of the culture that is evident in the setting. But, the unreliable CGI reduces the impact of massive battle scenes.
Music and Editing
Music
Monty Sharma’s music adds vitality to the story but it’s not as memorable required from an epic period film. Background music complements the action but don’t create a lasting emotional reaction. The occasional use of ballads extends the already lengthy runtime.
Editing
Satya Sharma’s editing could have been better. With a runtime of close to three hours, some scenes are a bit redundant, especially the introductions of characters along with romantic subplots. The transitions, although well executed, often interrupt the flow of the movie.
Historical Accuracy and Cultural Representation
Kesari Veer makes creative alterations in terms of historical accuracy, which can cause a polarization for those who are who are familiar with the subject. While it highlights Hamirji Gohil’s courage, the exaggeration of the political conflict could seem limiting to historians.
The focus of the representation is celebration of Hindu holidays and traditions of the military. But critics have highlighted an inclination to paint black-and white stories of good against evil, which raises concerns over the prevailing biases of the community.
Themes and Messages
The film’s themes are resonant even when the story has its own difficulties.
- Courage, as well as sacrifice are the main focus in Hamirji’s final commitment to faith and cultural preservation.
- Faith against Oppression as depicted by the Somnath Temple saga, reflects eternal conflicts in identity as well as resistance.
- Unity in Adversity Although it is diminished in execution, emphasizes the importance of a sense of community in times of crisis.
These themes have a lot of relevance in the present, connecting the past with universal values of resilience and courage.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
Kesari Veer received diverse reviews. Its bold story receiving praise as well as criticism.
Critical Reception
- The Indian Express and Bollywood Hungama exposed its flaws by pointing out poor CGI as well as melodramatic performance and unsatisfactory writing.
- Rahul Desai from The Hollywood Reporter India The film was criticized for its promoting ethnic bias and excessive dramatization, and Hindustan Times gave it a rating of 2.5/5 in a review, noting “Baahubali hangover” moments.
Audience Response
While critics had a split however, the general public appreciated the film’s intention to highlight less-known historical people. A number of reviews have praised Suniel Shetty’s performance as well as the emotional impact of key battle scenes. On IMDb the film has been rated by the audience as 8.6/10 which indicates a difference between the critical and audience reaction.
The Verdict
Kesari Veer (2025) is a mixed mix of a. Although it is awe-inspiring in a moment of grandeur and nostalgia it falls short because of pacing issues and weak character arcs and poor-quality visuals. Suniel Shetty, as well the emotion heart of the story are the main points, but the overreliance on spectacle sabotages its impact.
This film is ideal for those who enjoy historical action dramas as well as people who are interested in Hamirji Gohil’s history. But, those looking for an enthralling narrative or historical accuracy might be dissatisfied.
