Was the 2020 blockbuster Tanhaji a historical epic or a mythic retelling of history?
In short: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2020, blending high-octane action with the life of a 17th-century Maratha commander. While audiences praised its technical spectacle and performances, critics debated its historical accuracy, pointing to significant departures from the established record of the battle for Kondhana fortress.
Directed by Om Raut, the film depicts the life of Tanaji Malusare, a military commander serving Shivaji Maharaj. The narrative centers on the 1670 campaign to recapture the strategic Kondhana Fort from the Mughal Empire. In the film, Tanhaji engages in a climactic duel with the Mughal general Udaybhan Rathod, ultimately killing him before succumbing to his own injuries. This version of events, however, is contested by historical accounts, which suggest that Udaybhan was actually killed by Shelar Mama, not Tanhaji.
Beyond the final battle, the film takes considerable creative liberties. Historical records indicate that Tanhaji was never captured or held captive by Udaybhan, nor did he lose an arm during the fight, as the movie portrays. Other details, such as the use of metal shields—which were historically made from tortoise shells—and the involvement of a barber in the plot, lack historical grounding. These discrepancies led to public objections from groups like the Sambhaji Brigade, who argued that the film distorted history and erased the secular image of Shivaji Maharaj.
Despite these controversies, the film was a massive commercial success, grossing ₹387.65 crore worldwide. It received acclaim for its visual effects, cinematography, and the performances of Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan. Critics remained divided; some lauded it as a magnificent, high-energy spectacle, while others criticized it as a work of ahistorical propaganda. Ultimately, the film serves as a prime example of how modern cinema can transform historical figures into mythic icons, prioritizing narrative intensity and nationalistic fervor over the documented complexities of the past.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tanhaji
- Also: Wikidata — Tanhaji · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Tanhaji - The Lion Maratha Warrior of Ch. Shivaji · CC0
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