Tanhaji-The Unsung Warrior: The story of the legend Tanaji Malusare

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is an upcoming film starring Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. The movie is scheduled to hit the screens on January 10, 2020. The movie is directed by Om Raut. Its producers include Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. The movie is based on the life of the Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare.

Who was Tanaji Malusare?

Many believe Tanaji Malusare to be a brave and famous Maratha Warriors. He was the lifelong companion and friend of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He is very well known for having captured the Sinhagad Fort situated at the top of the hill. It is said that Tanaji had gone to meet Shivaji Maharaj to invite him for his son Rayaba's wedding. But when he heard Shivaji's plan to capture the Kondhana fort near Pune from the Mughals, Tanaji put the wedding plans on hold and immediately took charge of the campaign and started preparing for it. 

When Tanaji and his army of 300 troops reached the foot of the fort, Tanaji introduced Yashwanti, his Bengal monitor lizard also known as Ghorpad in Marathi. The plan supposedly was to tie a rope around the lizard and go up the fort. The lizard is known for its grip and was expected to take the troops to the top of the fort. The army then tied ropes around Yashwanti and started climbing the fort. After two failed attempts Tanaji and his men were successfully able to climb up the steep hill leading to the fort. 

The fort is said to have been controlled by Udaybhan Rathod, who was a Rajput officer and was appointed by Mughal general Jai Singh I. When the troops reached inside the fort, the guards at the fort sensed the army coming and the Mughal soldiers attacked the Maratha soldiers. Fierce combat took place between Tanaji and Udaybhan. During the battle, Tanaji's shield is said to have broken into pieces because of Udaybhan's strike. Tanaji still did not give up, he continued fighting by tying his turban around his hand. In the process, Tanaji died fighting on the battlefield due to several wounds.

The fort was captured and a fire was lit to pass the message to Shivaji Maharaj. When Suryaji, Tanaji's brother returned to Shivaji Maharaj after conquering the fortwith news of Tanaji's demise, Shivaji Maharaj is said to have been overcome with grief. Upon hearing the news, Shivaji expressed his sorrow by saying "Gad ala, pan sinha gela", which literally means, "the fort is captured but the lion is dead". As a tribute to Tanaji Malusare, the Kondhana fort was renamed by Shivaji, as Singhagad, meaning lion's fort.