Top 5 films based on the Maratha empire to watch if you liked Pawankhind

The glorious Maratha empire has been the subject of many blockbuster films, from Bajirao Mastani to Hirkani and more.

The best way to study history is through visual storytelling, a.k.a. the movies. Thanks to cinema, we can understand the psyche of our favourite warriors and historical figures in larger-than-life avatars. One of the latest OTT releases, Pawankhind gives us insight into the life and times of the great Maratha emperor Shivaji Maharaj, credited with establishing the Maratha empire. While you can stream the movie on Amazon Prime Video, don't forget to add these other five movies based on the Maratha empire to your watchlist.

Tanhaji (Disney+ Hotstar)

Tanhaji stars Ajay Devgn in the titular role alongside Kajol and Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The movie traces the life of Tanaji Malusare, the mighty Maratha warrior who sacrificed his life in the Battle of Sinhagad. Tanhaji scaled the mammoth Kondhana Fort to bring victory to the Marathas while leaving behind a legacy of pride, valour, and courage.

Panipat (Netflix)

Ashutosh Gowarikar's Panipat stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon as Ahmad Shah Abdali, Sadashiv Rao Bhau and Parvati Bai, respectively. The movie is set in 18th century India when King Ahmad Shah Abdali planned to take over the mighty Maratha Empire. "Panipat is an honest attempt at recreating the war that we only read in history books until now. It's a tribute to the Maratha community in its truest form", quotes Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times.

Hirkani (Amazon Prime Video, Plex)

Hirkani is a Marathi-language period piece following the story of the valorous Hirkani, played by Sonalee Benodekar (nee Kulkarni). It follows the life of Hirkani, a villager living at the base of Shivaji Maharaj's Raigad Fort. One late night, when Hirkani is unable to take the usual route to the village from the fort, she descends the rocky mountain path to reach her baby, defying the rules of the land. Will Shivaji punish her for breaking the rules?

Bajirao Mastani (Voot, JioTV, Eros Now, Google Play Movies and Apple iTunes)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's acclaimed magnum opus Bajirao Mastani tells the tale of love, relationships, betrayal, and everything in between. Set in the Maratha empire, it depicts the epic love story of Peshwa Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) and his second wife Mastani (Deepika Padukone), its impact on his first marriage to Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra), and the fates of their families and children.

Farzand (Disney+ Hotstar)

Farzand is Digpal Lanjekar's historical Marathi-language drama based on Maratha warrior Kondaji Farzand (Ankit Mohan), who fought 2,500 enemy soldiers with just an army of 60 Marathas to win the Panhala Fort in 1673. It comprises an ensemble cast of actors, including Prasad Oak, Mrinal Kulkarni and Chinmay Mandlekar in lead roles.

If only we could watch movies instead of attending history lectures in class, life would be perfect!

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