Tanhaji

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language epic historical action film directed by Om Raut and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Ajay Devgn under T-Series Films and Ajay Devgn FFilms. Tracing the life of Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare, it stars Ajay Devgn as the eponymous lead, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. It also features Neha Sharma, Sharad Kelkar and Luke Kenny in supporting roles. Set in the 17th century, it revolves around Tanaji's attempts to recapture the Kondhana fortress once it passed on to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who transfers its control to his trusted guard Udaybhan Singh Rathore. It marks as Devgn's 100th film since joining Bollywood 20 years ago.

The film was originally named Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior but the name was later changed to Tanhaji. The film was launched on 20 July 2017, with Raut making his directorial debut in Bollywood. Raut previously directed Lokmanya: Ek Yug Purush (2015), for which he received acclaim. The film was simultaneously dubbed in Marathi following popular demand. Principal photography commenced on 25 September 2018, and completed within May 2019. Filming took in mostly across the Film City in Mumbai, and few scenes shot at Pune. The cinematography and editing were handled by Keiko Nakahara and Dharmendra Sharma. The background score was composed by Sandeep Shirodkar; the soundtrack album was composed by Ajay–Atul, Sachet–Parampara and Mehul Vyas and released under the label T-Series.

Tanhaji was released in India in 3D, 2D and conventional formats on 10 January 2020. The film received wide critical and public praise for Devgn and Khan's performances, the visual effects, cinematography, action sequences, art direction, music, score, and editing. The film grossed ₹367.65 crore (equivalent to ₹433 crore or US$51 million in 2023) worldwide and was declared a major success at the box office, thus becoming the highest grossing Hindi film of 2020 as well as highest grossing Indian film of 2020. The film was selected as one of the Best Foreign Film to be screened at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. At the 68th National Film Awards, the film won the awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Best Actor (Devgn) and Best Costume Design. At the 66th Filmfare Awards, Tanhaji received 13 nominations, including Best Film and Best Actor (Devgn), and won four awards, including Best Director (Raut) and Best Supporting Actor (Khan).

Plot

In 1647, young Tanhaji Malusare is trained in swordsmanship by his father, Kaloji Malusare, who is later killed during a Mughal raid on their village of Umrat. Seventeen years later, in 1664, Tanhaji, now a military commander in the service of Shivaji Maharaj, leads forces alongside his younger brother Suryaji in defeating a Mughal cavalry detachment.

In 1665, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb dispatches his uncle, the Maharaja of Amber Jai Singh I, to check Shivaji’s territorial expansion in the Deccan Plateau. Following the Battle of Purandar, Shivaji is compelled to cede control of 23 forts to the Mughal Empire, including the strategic Kondhana Fort. Subsequently, the Mughal general Beshak Khan insults Shivaji’s mother, Jijabai, who vows to remain barefoot until Kondhana is recaptured.

By 1670, Shivaji’s spies report Aurangzeb’s plan to place Kondhana under the command of Rajput general Udaybhan Rathod, who will use it as a base for Mughal advances in southern India. Udaybhan is transporting a massive cannon, ‘‘Naagin’’, intended to target Maratha positions. Shivaji formulates a plan to retake Kondhana but withholds the details from Tanhaji, whose son Rayba’s wedding is imminent. During the Holi festival, Tanhaji visits Rajgad Fort to invite Shivaji and Jijabai to the wedding. However, Maratha noble Chandraji Pisal, secretly allied with Udaybhan, informs Tanhaji of the planned campaign in an attempt to draw him into a trap. Tanhaji insists on leading the mission, postponing his son’s wedding despite Shivaji’s initial reluctance.

Pisal warns Udaybhan of the Maratha strategy. Using this intelligence, Udaybhan deceives Tanhaji into attacking Maratha soldiers disguised as Mughals. Udaybhan reaches Kondhana unopposed, positions ‘‘Naagin’’ toward Rajgad, and reinforces the fort’s defenses. Tanhaji infiltrates Kondhana through a concealed passage and rallies local villagers to resist Mughal control. During Shivratri celebrations, he kills Pisal’s nephew Chultya for treachery but is captured and tortured by Udaybhan. Jagat Singh, Udaybhan’s subordinate and the brother of captive Kamal Devi, secretly frees Tanhaji and informs him of Udaybhan’s intention to marry Kamal Devi by force. Tanhaji vows to rescue her and reclaim Kondhana.

On the night of 4 February 1670, coinciding with Ashtami, Tanhaji leads a surprise assault on Kondhana. His forces scale the fort’s steep walls and engage the Mughal garrison in fierce combat. Amid the chaos, Jagat Singh and Kamal Devi escape. As Udaybhan prepares to fire ‘‘Naagin’’ at Rajgad, Tanhaji intercepts him. In the ensuing duel, Tanhaji loses an arm but kills Udaybhan, pushing him and the cannon over a cliff. Mortally wounded, Tanhaji plants the Bhagwa Dhwaj on Kondhana before succumbing to his injuries.

When Shivaji arrives, the fort is back under Maratha control. Mourning his fallen commander, Shivaji remarks, “’‘Gad aala, pan sinh gela’’” (“The fort has been captured, but the lion is lost”). Shivaji personally oversees Rayba’s wedding, while Savitribai, Tanhaji’s widow, fulfills her promise to dress as a bride in private as she awaits his return. Aurangzeb’s plan to consolidate Mughal control in southern India is delayed for another eighteen years until he personally campaigns in the Deccan.

Cast

Production

Development

After completing his work on the directorial venture Shivaay (2016), Ajay Devgn, announced his next film on 29 July 2016, titled Sons of Sardaar: Battle of Saragarhi, a big-budget war film based on the 1897 Saragarhi battle between 21 Sikhs and 10,000 Afghans. Made on a huge scale, Devgn planned to start the production work in late 2016, and decided to release the film on Diwali next year; However, when Karan Johar announced Kesari, another film based on the battle of Saragarhi, Devgn decided to postpone the project after September 2017. In late February 2019, it was reported that Devgn had shelved the project.

Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn, decided to do another period film with Om Raut, based on the life of Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare, which was titled officially as Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior. The first look of Taanaji was released on 20 July 2017, through Devgn's official Twitter account, and pre-production work commenced the following day. In August 2017, a report from Asian Age, claimed that the film will also be made simultaneously in Marathi language, due to the demand of the story, and also Raut's popularity in Marathi, after the success of Lokmanya: Ek Yug Purush (2015).

A source claimed that the film's pre-production work wouldgo on for 6–8 months, and Ajay Devgn would start the shoot of the film in March 2018. However, the team undertook heavy VFX works for the film for 6–8 months, and Devgn's NY VFXWAALA was brought on board for the film, whereas filmmakers planned to release the film in 3D formats, thus delaying the film's shoot to September 2018. On 2 August 2018, Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, undertook the project in collaboration with Ajay Devgn's production company and planned to start the shoot in end of September. In March 2019, the film's title Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior was changed to Tanhaji, due to numerological reasons.

Casting

In October 2018, Kajol was reported to play the role of Taanaji's wife in the film. In January 2019, Saif Ali Khan was reported to play the role of Udaybhan Singh Rathore, one of the main antagonists of the film. For his role, Khan had to practise sword fighting and horse-riding, as part of the character. In an interview with Mid-Day, he stated "A chunk of the research has been done by Om, who has done a thorough job. Since it is an action-packed film, I was required to look leaner. I had to be adept in horse riding. The fact that I was coming straight off Navdeep's [Singh] film (Laal Kaptaan) made it easier. The physical prep has been rigorous for this film."

Filming

Principal photography began on 25 September 2018, with a muhurat shot given by Om Raut. The film's first schedule was commenced in October 2018, with Kajol filming her portions in Mumbai.

Tanhaji was filmed mainly at the Film City in Mumbai. Director Om Raut claimed that in the movie, visual effects played a major part. The director also said that making the Sandhan Valley set was the biggest challenge for them. The makers had to create a 300-foot (91 m) long set to make it look like the Sandhan Valley. In the making video of the film, Raut stated: "Creating the 300-foot (91 m) long gorge inside a theatre was extremely difficult," adding that the production designers "went and took moulds of the stones and rocks which are there in the valley and they built a wall. And what we did in the effects after that is we put in effects on it."