According to the box office records and IMDB, Tanhaji is a blockbuster and has become a big hit with the audience but is it really a film worth investing your time in? Read on to find out. Tanhaji: the unsung warrior is a 2020 Hindi film starring Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan and it is based on the 17th century general Tanhaji Malusare (played by Ajay Devgn) was a big support to the legendary Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji Razey. Saif Ali Khan plays Uday Bhan who is the main villain of the plot as he is the general who fights against Tanhaji for the fortress of Kondhana that has been captured by Aurangzeb. Even though the film is based on historical characters, it takes a lot of liberties and it does give a disclaimer for them at the beginning which is good.
Ajay Devgn’s transformation into Tanhaji is good but there is nothing that will make you feel you are only watching the character and not Devgn on screen. The actor is good with scenes that require intensity but at times it feels like he is just playing another character like Singham or any other that he has done before. Kajol on the other hand seems to be in a totally new avatar and is a treat to watch whenever she is on screen. She fits really well into the role and is a natural as always. However, she doesn’t have as much to do in the story. It is Saif Ali Khan’s UdayBhan who is the main highlight of the film and has given a stellar performance as the bad guy. Saif has embraced the character and there is a lot of intensity and layers to it. He adds the much needed flavour to the otherwise bland narrative. Sharad Kelkar plays the role of Shivaji Raazey and even though the film is not about his character, Kelkar’s subdued performance is very effective and memorable.
There is an added love plot between Uday Bhan and a princess who he loved since his childhood and therefore abducts her. This is obviously fiction and just added to make the character seem more interesting and gruesome. The movie has a lot of fight and action sequences that are pretty good to watch in 3D and one or two scenes are simply awesome. The pacing is not slow and things keep happening throughout the film. There are a lot of unrealistic action scenes in the film and some moments where the characters seem to have superhuman strength but that’s just what we expect from a Bollywood epic film. The music and score are good and pump up your spirits in every important scene. Overall, the film rides the horse of nationalism well that is a big trend in Bollywood movies since the past few years. The high spirits of the film make up for the lack of substance in the story and make Tanhaji: the unsung warrior a one-time watch at least.
