Thursday, January 9, 2020

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior - Movie Review

By Hamza Shafique (Instagram / Facebook)


First film of 2020 and what a major disappointment. Such films work on two major elements , first that they create 16th/ 17th century magical world of kings and queens that we all romanticize and the element of patriotism/heroism they carry. Both of the elements were missing in this Om Raut directorial. Production and direction is very mediocre here coupled with amateur graphics, the world they create can't match the levels we get in dozens of recent period films. And patriotism doesn't make sense either, a Maratha fighting a Rajput to expand their emperor's boundaries beyond their homeland so for me taking sides is not easy.


Before watching the film I used to think Pakistan army surrender in 1971 is the biggest such act but now I found out that the Maratha Idol was the first to surrender 23 forts when he could have fought as well and then later on film portrays him to be someone willing to fight doesn't work with the whole plot. Screenplay is half cooked and even though film run time is decent it still feels long. Dialogues are not very creative and original, at one point Kajol say " Kutay kee zindagi say sher kee zindagi behter hai"( A lion's life is better than a dog's life), first time I heard this dialogue was when I was 10 years old, who puts such repetitive sentiments in films any more. At another point Ajay Devgan says "her Maratha mein lakh Maratha hota hai" ( Every single maratha has a hundred thousand Maratha power in him ) and I was wondering then why you surrendered 23 forts without fight. A serious lack of creativity is visible in dialogues. Kajol is completely wasted and even if you remove her scenes entirely there will be absolutely no impact on the narrative.


Saif Ali Khan appeared mimicking Ranveer Singh's rendition of Khilji. In fact whole film appears as a spoof of Baji Rao Mastani, there was Malhari with signature moves let's give Ajay similar song and the moves he was doing with three finger and crescent shaped hands appeared so hilarious rather impactful. The problem is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali along with Mr and Mrs Ranveer Singh has set the bar so high that any thing lower doesnt impress any more. Ajay Devgun is decent but then screenplay doesnt give him enough material to shine.


Action sequences are interesting in the beginning but they too become repetitive and unimaginative as the movie progresses. There is so much potential here, in one scene Tanaji reminds Shivaji about their previous historic moments of forming / expanding the empire and the promises they made, I wish in 131 minutes run time of the film I had got to see that kind of development of his character leading to his final epic battle at Kondhana rather then the random nonsensical buildup we get instead. I usually suggest to go watch such films even if they are bad , just to experience the beauty of that era but that is not even present here , so I will suggest not to waste your time and money on this one.

17 comments:

  1. Oooops .... So its a big NO to Tanhaji ๐Ÿ™„

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  2. The way you talk about shivaji maharaj shows your bias. Learn and appreciate history and remove your communal glasses while reviewing art. I'm sure you would have enjoyed the movie had you watched it with a broader mindset, which is evidently missing reading your childish and amateurish review.

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    1. I watch every movie without communal glasses ..... but I am.glad you enjoyed the film.

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  3. Shivaji Mahraja Wanted his people to survive the onslaught and not to fight against a Rajput hindu warrior like Raja Jaisingh. He rightfully surrendered 23 forts and also went with his son to Agra for the sake of his people an make sure that Raja Jai singh returns back. Eventually after his comeback to Raighad, all the forts were won back and no fort were recaptured by Mughals for next 13 years. That was the foresight of Shivaji Mahraj to build hindvi Swaraj. And his in life time Aurngazeb was never able to subdue Marathas.So study history first and then pass lousy comments.

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    1. I was just talking about what was shown in the movie. All this wasnt shown , and that's exactly what I said I wish they had shown that.

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  4. Expecting postive reviews of any hindu worrier from muslim communal reviewer is like expecting sweetness from salt

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    1. It's still a movie and all I was saying what they have put up there is not entertaining and doesnt make sense too.....

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  5. How can I expect good reviews from a liberal...๐Ÿ˜‚ ๐Ÿ˜‚ ๐Ÿ˜‚ ๐Ÿ˜‚

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    1. Now this is unique.......I liked PaniPat ......and BajiRao so does that mean I wasnt liberal then

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  6. เค…เคชเคจी เค…เคฎ्เคฎी เค”เคฐ เคฌเคนเคจों เค•े เคธाเคฅ เคธंเคฌंเคง เคฌเคจाเคจे เคตाเคฒे เค•िเคธी เคฎुเคฒ्เคฒे เคธे เคคाเคจाเคœी เคฎूเคตी เค•ी เคช्เคฐเคถंเคธा เคธुเคจเคจे เค•ी เค•िเคธी เคนिंเคฆू เค•ो เคšाเคนเคค เคจเคนीं เคธเคฎเคा เคฐे เคšूเคคिเค

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  7. Bro....I left this movie half way and just came out to have a smoke ...can't agree more to your review word by word !!! It's the portrayal of a greater warrior which is picturised very very poorly !!

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    1. thanks man , much appreciated because the kind of feedback / hate I was getting I thought I saw some other film :)

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  8. There is a definite anti-hindu bias in the reviewer which is evident in the review.A communal Muslim can never appreciate the heroic of Tanaji.

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  9. Who ever write this review i say go and suck a dick

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