Tanhaji (तान्हाजी)

"Tanhaji (तान्हाजी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Tanhaji (तान्हाजी)". Direction Om Raut, Screenplay Prakash Kapadia & Om Raut. Production Ajay Devgan, Bhushan Kumar & Krishna Kumar. Music Ajay-Atul, Sachet-Parampara, Mehul Vyas. The film features Ajay Devgan, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Ajinkya Deo, Luke Kenny, Neha Sharma, Shashank Shende, Sharad Kelkar, Nissar Khan, Padmavati Rao and Devdatta Nage. The movie runs for about 2 hours 15 min. I watched it with Aditi and Mihika on 17th Jan 2020.

Is the story of Tanhaji, brave subhedar of Shivaji maharaj, who goes on a mission to win back fort Kondhana by postponing marriage of his son. Movie is about house this mission succeeds and how Tanaji lays down his life for the larger good of Swarajya.

Director has done a good job, in general. He maintains grip on the story. Ensures that the viewers remain interested. There is measured blend of emotions, action, love for country, romance and history. I liked the scene where Tanhaji, disguised as Sadhu, obtains permission for the mission from Shivaji and Jijabai. However, all's not well. Director forgets to close all open ends and let's some remain loose e.g. What happens to Kamal? What happens to Chandraji Pisal? The climax is the fight between Udaybhan and Tanhaji. I expected the fight to be fierce, intense and long. But the fight is neither fierce nor does it last long. Actually, it disappoints. In his effort to make a villain out of Udaybhan director goes overboard and Udaybhan appears disgusting (abducting a girl, watching her bathe, barbecuing and eating a crocodile etc.)

Ajay does justice to the role of Tanhaji. He plays the character well. Even at this age, Kajol looks very beautiful, simply beautiful. She has a limited role, but makes her mark. Sharad plays role of Shivaji Maharaj with restraint and poise. Saif, as Udaybhan, rather than looking menacing and villianish bad man, acts comic. Although he is intense in patches, he lacks sustained intensity. His character does not bring the chilling sensation. Comparison with Ranveer (Khilji of Padmavat), who played a character of similar shades, is inevitable and Ranveer wins hands down. Padmavati Rao does not suit as Jijabai. She looks like an old granny rather than determined mother and inspiration of Shivaji.

Fight scenes are very good. The scaling of vertical wall, ziplining & scaling the mountain is flawlessly executed. It appears very real. However, some things defy all laws of physics. Tanhaji pushes a running horse from side and horse falls down. The fierce gun Nagin requires 2 elephants to pull it, but in climax injured and dying Tanhaji pushes it off the cliff. 

Some special effects are not good. I say this because one can make out mechanical animals and model structures. They don't look real. Had it been managed properly, it would have made the day. 

There are the songs that you like while in theater but you forget them once you are out of the theater. 

Recommend watching.