Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior Movie (2020) Review in English, Cast & Released Date

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Poster

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Genres

Action/ Drama/ Adventure/ Historical/ Drama

Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior Movie Story

In the late seventeenth century, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb proclaims key slope post-Kondhana as the capital of Southern India from which he intended to extend the Mughal domain into South India. In any case, The Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj orders his General Tanaji Malusare to catch Kondhana at any expense to shield Southern India from Mughal intrusion, while the Mughal head sends his confided in administrator Uday Bhan to safeguard the stronghold, in this way prompting a fight between the two armed forces for control of the post. The Battle is known as the Battle of Sinhagad which chose the destiny of Southern India.

Tanhaji Malusare was an unsung warrior from the 17th century. His acts of valor and bravery continued to inspire soldiers long after he lost his life in battle.

Blessed with an assortment of steel, the fortitude of a lion and a spry personality,, Tanhaji was also one of Chattrapati Shivaji`s closest aides and trusted lieutenants. Prepared to set out his life for his King and nation, this braveheart planned a surgical strike to get back the Kondana Fort against the Mughal army headed by Udaybhan.

At the point when the stronghold of Kondana, that was the pride of the Marathas was under the control of Udaybhan and a Mughal army, Tanhaji did battle equipped just with a bunch of Marathas. If the Mughals had muscle power, Tanhaji had sharp astuteness. The only unfortunate thing is--the Marathas won Kondana however they lost their Lion. Tanhaji left behind a void that none in history could ever fill.

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior is a visual spectacle that delineates the life and times of this unsung warrior, whose valor still makes the Nation proud.

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Trailer

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Cast

• Ajay Devgn as Tanaji Malusare
• Saif Ali Khan as Udaybhan Rathod
• Kajol as Savitribai Malusare, Tanaji's wife
• Sharad Kelkar as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
• Luke Kenny as Emperor Aurangzeb
• Padmavati Rao as Jijabai
• Jagapathi Babu as Shelaar Mama
• Devdatta Nage as Suryaji Malusare, Tanaji's brother
• Neha Sharma as Kamla Devi
• Ajinkya Deo as Pisal
• Hardik Sangani as Gondya
• Nissar Khan

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Songs

1. Shankara Re Shankara - 3:31

Mehul Vyas

2. Maay Bhavani - 4:18

Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh

3. Ghamand Kar - 4:42

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Budget

150 crore

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Release date

10 January 2020

Directed by

Om Raut

Produced by

Ajay Devgn

Bhushan Kumar

Krishan Kumar

Written by

Prakash Kapadia (dialogue)

Screenplay by

Prakash Kapadia

Om Raut

Story by

Prakash Kapadia

Om Raut

Music by

Ajay-Atul

Sachet–Parampara

Mehul Vyas

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Score

Sandeep Shirodkar

Cinematography

Keiko Nakahara

Edited by

Dharmendra Sharma

Production company

Ajay Devgn FFilms

T-Series

Distributed by

AA Films

Country

India

Language

Hindi

Tanhaji The Unsung Movie Review

Hindi cinema is currently in the throes of historical fever. On the heels of Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat comes Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. For makers who are struggling with how to revive centuries-old stories for a millennial audience, I have good news.

Writer-director Om Raut, co-writer Prakash Kapadia and leading man and co-producer Ajay Devgan  seemed to have cracked the formula – Tanhaji, based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj’s lieutenant, is an action movie rolled into an Amar Chitra Katha comic. Which means that there is  no room here for nuance or arcs.

Actors play outsized, one-note characters. The Marathas, with a few exceptions, are valiant, noble warriors who sacrifice their lives for their motherland. The Mughals are largely avaricious usurpers  who demand ‘jaat' and ‘jaan’. They are described as ‘darindey’ and ‘mauka parast’.

The clash of good and evil is played out in 3D, in an unapologetically artificial, digitized world. The battle scenes seem straight out of a video game. But Om doesn’t give you time to question the history or the questionable politics or the one-dimensional storytelling. He immerses you in a quick-paced adventure that skillfully combines spectacle, nationalism and hyper-masculinity.

As storytelling, Tanhaji is rousing and effective. Subedar Tanhaji Malusare is the ultimate mard Maratha – he twirls his moustache and ferociously leads his men into battle even when they are drastically outnumbered. He goes up against Aurangzeb’s Rajput general Udaybhan. Uday is a sadist who kills for amusement.

In one scene, he screams so loudly that a man topples to his death. It is fitting that the fight between Tanhaji and Uday pivots on a phallic symbol – a canon called Nagin that is pointed at the fortress of Shivaji Maharaj. Ajay Devgn plays Tanhaji with rock-like conviction. This is the man who stands stoic in the face of death.

But Ajay doesn’t over-express the valour. Even the fiery speeches are delivered with gravitas. Though there are moments when it feels like the trademark reserve will crack and he will do a ‘aata majhi satakli’ from Singham.

It’s a smart choice to cast Kajol as Tanhaji’s wife Savitri. She has few scenes but the familiarity between the real-life husband and wife helps to ground their relationship. Sharad Kelkar is impressive as Shivaji Maharaj – he has an innate dignity. I can’t imagine any future films on Shivaji Maharaj casting anyone else.

But the scene-stealer is Saif Ali Khan having the time of his life as Udaybhan. Saif plays the exaggerated evil with a cheeky panache. Uday is an elegant psychopath. There are echoes of Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the elaborate lighting scheme and the colour coding of characters.

The spectacle and staging of war seems inspired by the Baahubali franchise. And the surgical strike sentiment feels like Uri: The Surgical Strike. You can almost hear Tanhaji asking his troops  – How’s the josh.

Om cleverly combines these elements – the climactic battle is plotted with absolute precision. DoP Keiko Nakahara and editor Dharmendra Sharma create a propulsive, immersive experience. The film’s furious nationalism is bolstered by Sandeep Shirodkar’s background music.

And the costumes by Nachiket Barve and Mahesh Sheria are aesthetic and nicely detailed - especially Udaybhan’s more elaborate wardrobe. Tanhaji succeeds in pushing your buttons but there is no getting away from its problematic ideology.

In one scene, when a Mughal general is killed, Om immediately moves the camera to temple bells ringing loudly as though the gods themselves were applauding. This film is apparently the first in a series that celebrates the unsung heroes of India. I hope the ones that follow offer more inclusivity.