It seems that the Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan-starrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior has got into a political tussle. While the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is wholeheartedly supporting the film, the Nationalist Congress Party has asked the makers to not distort the history of the characters.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is supporting the Ajay Devgn-starrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, a film based on the life of a legendary military leader in the Maratha empire, Tanaji Malusare. The political party, which is known for opposing the release of Hindi films dubbed in Marathi, approved the Om Raut directorial saying that “it should be dubbed in as many languages as possible.”
Even Ajay Devgn, who plays the titular role in the film, took to Twitter to thank MNS for allowing Tanhaji to release simultaneously in Marathi and Hindi.
“Thank you Ameya & MNS for allowing us to showcase our film Tanhaji in Marathi & Hindi simultaneously. It’s our privilege to be able to share the story of this brave Maratha warrior in his mother tongue as well as the National Language,” Ajay wrote on Twitter.
“MNS continues to oppose the release of Hindi films dubbed in Marathi. However Tanhaji is a film that should be dubbed in as many languages as possible and released across the globe,” said the president of MNS’ Cine Wing Ameya Vinod Khopkar.
On the other hand, the Nationalist Congress Party legislator Jitendra Awhad warned the makers of Tanhaji to get the basic facts of the film right and not portray the history of the characters wrongly. Awhad threatened the makers of the film to make changes to the trailer. He expressed his sentiments on Twitter.
Jitendra Awhad also said that he will take action against the film if the necessary changes are not made.
Earlier, the Sambhaji Brigade had also taken offence to certain scenes in the trailer. According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, they have taken umbrage at a scene in which a person is seen hurling a wooden stick at Shivaji Maharaj, and have objected to the dialogues of Kajol, who plays Savitribai Malusare. They have also alleged that by showing the OM symbol on the saffron Maratha flag, the makers have attempted to erase Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s secular image and have distorted facts.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)