It is 17th century, South India. The Mughal Emperor is making plans to conquer the great southern parts of India. Who will stop him? Two great heroes: Tanhaji and Shivaji. An epic battle in Kondhana will take place to regain the lands that were once taken away from their fathers.
To enjoy this epic Bollywood film, one does not need a very detailed background on India’s history. The storyteller does this successfully by simply leading us through the events. Even the timeline is very clear with subtitles indicating dates, places and how many years have passed by.
Tanhaji, the main hero is performed by a great actor, Ajay Devgn. His relationship with his loving wife Kajol creates moments of relief against the intense fighting scenes throughout the film. Another praiseworthy relationship found in the film is his bromance with Shivaji, the military leader. Their passion to regain their homelands connects them deeply.
The central story revolves around the epic battle in Kondhana, in which two main enemies face each other: Tanhaji vs. Udaybhan. Although Udaybhan is not Mughal himself, he serves the Mughal Emperor. The narrator emphasises the tactic of a Hindu facing another Hindu in this case.
The cinematography of the film is not to be underestimated. Dark battle scenes and light domestic scenes create playful contrasts. Although the CGI effects don’t work well with the animals and vast landscapes, the battle scenes are amazing. The camera follow ups are professional, and the music matches perfect to the rhythm of the fights.
Lastly, the film holds a nice common sense of humor. There are minor characters who make the audience laugh due to their cowardice or stupidity. Add on to that, two full classical Bollywood dance scenes, and you have a fun, historical epic film with great acting!
Leave a Reply