Before the lockdown, Om Raut, whose first Hindi film, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, proved to be a huge success, was scheduled to start shooting with Kartik Aaryan for an action film. The announcement came with much fanfare. However, in the course of the lockdown, the film took a backseat and Raut’s Adipurush with Saif Ali Khan and Prabhas took precedence.

Talking about the project with Kartik, Om says, “There were too many things that happened. The film with Kartik Aaryan was set up in a place where we could no longer travel. The country is out of bounds now. It’s not that my plans changed due to the lockdown. Around February, I knew we won’t be able to travel to that city because of the Coronavirus situation. It’s a difficult film to make, and I am still very excited about it.”

Clearing the air about the film’s status, he further shares, “Whenever I get a chance, I will get on with it. The film has not been shelved, only deferred for now. The lockdown was a downer for everyone, but it somehow worked for me. I got ample time with my family and I clocked in over 14 hours of work every day. I had a chance to revisit my old scripts and story dockets. Adipurush is one of the stories that I had worked on a while back. I pulled it out, and during the lockdown, I completed the script and the screenplay.”  

Having envisioned one of Indian cinema's biggest offerings titled Adipurush, director Om Raut reveals South superstar Prabhas undergoing a transformation to play Lord Ram
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 21, 2020)

Bolstered by the success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior earlier this year, filmmaker Om Raut has stepped up to helm one of Indian cinema's biggest offerings — Adipurush. If his fans have associated Prabhas with the mighty Baahubali so far, the director believes their upcoming venture, touted to be an adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, will depict him in a new light.

Raut says Prabhas' was the only face that came to mind when imagining his story's protagonist. "I have seen him [as the lead] in my head, on my computer, in my script — if there is anybody who can play Prabhu Ram to perfection, it is Prabhas. As the biggest star in our country, he adds to the commercial value of the film. But more than that, he has a great combination of calmness and aggression. As the writer and director, that appealed to me," reasons the filmmaker.

He had discussed the concept with the superstar in the early months of the lockdown. Since then, the actor has been prepping for the 3D epic action drama that is slated to go on floors in January. "Prabhas is working on his transformation. He has to attain an archer's physique, which is dramatically different from that of a warrior. We have begun consulting several experts. He will also begin learning archery soon."

Driving home the message of the triumph of good over evil, the Hindi-Telugu bilingual will be dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and a few foreign languages. Mounting a lavish big-screen spectacle at a time when the world is reeling under the pandemic-induced economic slowdown is quite a gamble. But Raut — who describes himself as a "big-screen man" — has complete faith in his dream project. "I believe in my subject, my actors, and above all, in Bhushan Kumar [producer]. Coronavirus is not here to stay, it will be gone. We, humans, believe in community entertainment. A larger-than-life film like this must be watched in cinema halls. That is where my job as a filmmaker comes in — I have to ensure that my movie provides entertainment and justifies every penny that the audience has paid."

After Ajay Devgn film, Om Raut’s Kartik Aaryan-starrer has punches, kicks too
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 4, 2020)

Om Raut’s Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, spearheaded by Ajay Devgn, opened in January and is the year’s biggest grosser so far. Given the Coronavirus lockdown, the period drama is expected to retain the top spot till year-end. Om, who’s from the Marathi film industry, admits it’s like being a cricketer who’s just hit a century. Incidentally, Tanhaji is Ajay’s 100th film and Om reveals that they were in the middle of shoot when they learnt of the milestone. “Thanks to Mr Devgn, Tanhaji is no longer as unsung a hero,” he exults.

He shot the film against a green screen and created settings with visual effects. “It was radical to shoot indoors and wouldn’t have happened without Mr Devgn’s nod. Everybody should get a producer like him,” Om says, raving about his hero’s decision-making ability.

While most Bollywood historicals are longer than three hours, Om kept his to two hours and nine minutes. “That’s what modern cinema is about. The audience is bored if a film drags its feet,” he says.

One associates Tanaji Malusare with the monitor lizard, known as ghorpad in Marathi. The first poster of the film had featured it, but the film didn’t. Om explains that the lizard wasn’t in the script and was only put in the poster because it is associated with Tanaji Malusare, so it was simpler to communicate that they were making a film on him. “According to folklore, he used a monitor lizard to climb mountains. I believe it’s not possible with all the swords, bows and arrows. We used the reference in the climax. Ghorpade are ace climbers, so, it was poetic justice,” he recounts.

With Ajay planning a franchise to showcase other unsung warriors, does he have a script ready? “I know the plan, but don’t have a subject yet. In the future, I’d want to make another film in the franchise,” he promises.

Next up for Om is an action thriller with Kartik Aaryan but he is unwilling to speak about it till the film kicks off. All he will say is that Tanhaji introduced a new language of action. “It was a hybrid model between western sword-fighting, Samurai and Maratha warrior techniques. I love action, it gets the boy in me excited. Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan was a stylish action hero in his time. His kind of action will work today if done right,” he says.

Buzz is, Om is in talks with Hrithik Roshan for a film too. “Hrithik is a dear friend. He is a lovely guy and passionate about cinema. If something pans out, we will collaborate,” he avers. He has been trying to write amid the lockdown but in vain. “So, I am researching, reading books and cooking, for the first time after college. I had been with Tanhaji since 2015. Finally, I am getting to spend some time at home,” he signs off.

Om Raut on Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khan, the central figures of his upcoming directorial and how he navigates the landmine that is directing a historical drama
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 6, 2020)

Om Raut, who has directed the Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Saif Ali Khanstarrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is all praise for his lead actor. “It was the best experience of my life working with Mr Devgn. He is a calm person and a genius actor to work with. He just hits the right note. He is the best example of screen-acting personified,” he gushes.

The director notes that working with the three actors was like a trip down memory lane. “It was a dream come true for me to have all of them in my film. They are extremely polished and there’s a reason why they’re all so relevant even today. Their approach to cinema is very modern. It was like witnessing the culture of the old times and the professionalism of the modern times,” he raves.

During the film’s trailer launch, Ajay had said that it was his dream of 30 years to create a visual spectacle for his audience. Om concurs, adding that the plan from the outset was to make Tanhaji in 3D. “We wanted to transport the audience to 1600-1700 AD with a film that happens around you; you feel like you’re a part of it, as if you are sitting in some fort or a palace in Kondhana,” he explains.

Recreating a historical story on screen is not without its share of risks. How did he make sure to not offend anyone? “You have to be very careful. One doesn’t set out with the intention of offending people. The intention is just to make a good film in a way that it inspires people. But different people have different thought processes, so knowingly or unknowingly something might affect a certain person. All you can do is be truthful to the story and maintain the sanctity, piousness and true value of the characters,” he explains.

Ajay recently spoke about spinning the film into a franchise with other unsung heroes of India. Ask Om about it and he says that he doesn’t know what part he would play in the future of the franchise. For now, he is confident about his film, even though it is releasing in January, widely considered a slow month, and is clashing with Deepika Padukone’s Chhapaak. “Last year, Uri: The Surgical Strike changed perceptions as it made a lot of money at the box-office, despite being a January release. As for Chhapaak, I am a huge fan of Meghna Gulzar. I love her work and whatever she does; it’s very cutting edge. I am looking forward to watching the film. Besides, this is a country of 120 crore people… there is room for all the films,” he argues.

The director’s last film, Lokmanya: Ek Yug Purush in Marathi, based on the life of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was also a historical. Ask him if he is going to stick to the genre in the future and he shares, “There are so many stories and events in the past that need to be told, that set up an example for the youth of this country. I will romance history and make another period film, but it may not be the subject of my next film.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 6, 2020)

Director Om Raut, who made his directorial debut with the Marathi film Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush (2015), is all set to step into Bollywood with Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. The filmmaker, who has produced films like City Of Gold (2010), Haunted 3D (2011), spoke to BT about working with Ajay Devgn in the magnum opus and making a film that’s mounted on a huge canvas. Excerpts:

What drew you to make your first Hindi film on Tanhaji Malusare?
In 2007, when I was studying in the US, I saw Zack Snyder’s 300 (2007). I was completely mesmerised by it. Until that day, I didn’t know who Leonidas (King of Sparta, played by Gerard Butler) was. When I stepped out of the theatre, I wondered why we don’t make such films. We have so many interesting historical characters and their stories deserve to be told. The first personality that came to my mind was Subedar Tanhaji Malusare.

You thought about making the film in 2007, while it is releasing in 2020. That’s quite a long wait...
I wanted to make Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior before my first directorial, but I couldn’t get Ajay Devgn at that point of time. I was sure that I wanted to make this film with him. So, after my first Marathi film, I began working on it. That year, Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) released and it gave me the confidence that we, too, can make films on such a huge scale.

You were keen that Ajay plays this role. How confident were you that he would agree to do the film ?
When I met him, I just had 30 minutes to narrate the idea. After hearing the first half of the story, he asked me, ‘How will you be able to make this film?’ I didn’t quite understand his question. He explained, ‘Who is going to pay for it?’ I was clueless. That’s when he said that he would produce it. That was great news for me. I offered to narrate the other half, but he didn’t even go through the second half that day, which showed his confidence in me. He was convinced on hearing just the first half of the script.

Did you expect the film to be mounted on such a big scale and feature actors like Saif Ali Khan and Kajol?
Working with Ajay Devgn was very easy. I believe that our styles are very similar. I couldn’t have thought of Saif as Udaybhan Rathod. I approached every actor other than him. Interestingly, not a single actor said no to the role, but I would develop cold feet and then back out from finalising them. One day, Ajay called me and asked me where the villain was. We were fast approaching the time when we would have to start shooting for the film. It was during the meeting with him that we discussed Saif. Ajay contacted Saif, and two hours later, I was in Saif’s office, and soon enough, he was on board. As for Kajol, when I was thinking of casting for the role of Savitribai (Tanhaji’s wife), she did come to my mind. I asked Ajay about it, and he said, ‘Tu Kajol ko bolke dekh phir dekhte hai kya hota hai.’ It is a small role but has a lot of depth.

After the trailer released, Saif’s look as Udaybhan was compared to Ranveer Singh’s look as Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat (2018)…
I wrote the character much before I had seen Padmaavat. I believe that there could be parallels drawn, but I don’t think there are any similarities between the two. What Ranveer and Sanjay sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) had done in Padmaavat is different. In fact, Udaybhan is louder.

Legend has it, Tanhaji brought along his pet ghorpad (monitor lizard) that could cling to rocks. A rope was tied around the lizard and it was made to climb up the cliff, paving the way for the soldiers to climb holding them. Is that depicted in the film? Also, what went into the research to make this film, which is based on the Battle of Sinhagad?
The reference of a ghorpad came from a powada (ballad) written in 1839, by an unknown author. This incident happened in 1670, while 1830 is the backdrop of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. At that time, artistes were creating awareness about the freedom struggle. I think that Indians believe in animism (attribution of a living soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena). According to me, that is where the domesticated monitor lizard comes in. However, we did take some cinematic liberties in the film, in order to satisfy both the sides. This is a historical film, and someone or the other will react or oppose it. As far as the research is concerned, we read various books and referred to other material that was available to us. However, for inferences like these, you have to create, derive, get inspired and bend the narrative in other ways. While making a historical, you have to make sure that you do not tarnish or distort anything. You have to maintain the sanctity of the characters.

Your first film was based on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, while your second is about Tanhaji Malusare. Which personality from the pages of our history do you plan to focus on next?
I am done with the historical genre for now. No more shooting with swords and shields for me (laughs!). My next Hindi film is of a different genre. I will start working on it soon.

Director Om Raut on why he believes Ajay is ideal to play the unsung Maratha warrior in his next, which will be the actor’s 100th film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (Feb 9) that Ajay Devgn who brought in his 50th birthday on April 2, will complete a century run at the movies with his upcoming period drama, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. He plays Tanaji Malusare, the warrior who fought alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in several battles. Bring up the milestone, and director Om Raut says they realised this would be Ajay’s 100th film only towards the latter half of the shoot. “It’s a privilege, I feel so proud!” he exclaims. “He (Tanaji Malusare) was a husband, a father, a brother and a friend, and one of the greatest warriors of our country. Mr Devgn has the eyes, persona and physique which exudes power.”

Raut was fascinated by the Maratha warrior since he was a child and read about Tanaji in history books. “I started writing the film in 2015 and gave Mr Devgn a narration two years later. He was my first choice even before I’d locked the script,” he informs, pointing out that prep has been long because while the film is an amalgamation of art and facts, they couldn’t take any cinematic liberties while narrating this tale of valour. “At the same time, while staying true to the character and milieu, I had to add my own take as a filmmaker. It was difficult to recreate the 17th century world without many visual references. We even rebuilt the Mughal empire,” he beams.

The film, produced by Ajay with Bhushan Kumar, marks the reunion of Ajay and Saif Ali Khan after Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2006 film Omkara. Saif plays Udaybhan Rathod, who fought against Tanaji in the Battle of Sinhagad. On the subject of his antagonist, Raut says they wanted an actor who could take villainy to another level. “And while shooting, we realised this was a battle royal between Mr Devgn and Saif,” he exults.

Kajol, who plays Tanaji’s wife Savitri, was his anchor and fought the battle at home for him. “Nobody has seen Kajol ma’am as a Maharashtrian before though she is half Maharashtrian.”

Not just the film which opens in January, but even its trailer which will be unveiled on November 19 is in 3D. Raut promises it will be an immersive experience for the audience and make them feel a part of the action.

Om Raut’s hi-five from AD100

In a career spanning almost 30 years, Om Raut picks Ajay’s performances which have stayed with him. “The two National Award-winning performances, Zakhm and The Legend of Bhagat Singh, will always be a part of the list,” he says, before moving on to the rest.


Singham
Bajirao Singham stands tall, I loved the way Mr Devgn kept it subtle yet aggressive.

Golmaal
In this series, you get to see a different side to him as Gopal in the film; less intense.


Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai
Everyone is a Sultan Mirza fan; a ’90s show done with style in a later decade.

Company
With Malik the era of swag started.

Raid
Amay Patnaik was a very controlled performance and showed how much he has changed as an actor over the years.