Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Ratings: 4/5
Duration: 2 Hrs 15 Mins
Director: Om Raut
Genre: Drama. History
Release Date: 10th Jan 2020 (India)
Star Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Neha Sharma, Sharad Kelkar, Luke Kenny, Padmavati Rao, Shashank Shende, Ajinkya Deo, Kailash Waghmare
Plot: The film depicts the 17th Century and traces the life of the fierce Maratha warrior, Tanhaji Malusare, who was one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s closest aides and a military leader.
Review: Director Om Raut in his debut Hindi movie shows a flair for storytelling. He manages to maintain a firm grip on the film and balances the emotions and drama tactfully. Even if you aren’t a fan of the genre, make sure to give it a try for its freshness as the movie isn’t following what the period-dramas have done before.
The film’s first half, because of a lot of theory, misses the punch. And it’s only during the second half, the movie drastically picks up and leaves you on high with the climax.
When it comes to performances, the Braveheart Maratha warrior, Tanhaji played by Ajay Devgn’s power-packed presence keeps the intrigue alive, with his explosive performance. Whereas, Kajol as Tanhaji’s strong and supportive wife, Savitribai, gives a convincing performance even with the limited screen time.
And Sharad Kelkar as Shivaji Maharaj, brings the required gravity to the part of the warrior-king and has done a brilliant job with his subtle performance. While Saif Ali Khan as Udaybhan overpowers. He portrays a role that is crazy and has managed to play brutal with a hint of comic sequences. This is definitely one of Saif’s most outstanding performances.
Therefore, one of the high points of the film is the casting of the key characters, as the performances would hold the attention of the viewers till the end.
Even the editing done by Dharmendra Sharma is crisp and keeps the pace very tight. The action sequences - sword fighting, slicing, dicing is designed by action director Ramazan Bulut and is shot skillfully and aesthetically. Moreover, Sandeep Shirodkar’s background score helps the viewers to connect with the action happening on screen. Without going loud, it blows your mind. And there’s a lot of visual treat as well.
Most of the songs had a weak link and seemed forced, and that affects the pace. Though, it’s Sachet–Parampara’s Ghamand Kar that works the best. Also, it is smartly woven into the background score for the desired impact.
Overall, 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior' is a historical period film, that is redesigned in such a way, which will keep the viewers glued to their seats. Additionally, it scores on various counts - superior performances, powerful action, visual impact, and most of all, it serves what it promises!
