The mighty fort of Panhala was surrounded by the army of Siddi Jauhar. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was trapped inside with his soldiers, food was running low, and rescue seemed impossible.

One stormy night, Shivaji slipped out of the fort with a small group of warriors and his loyal commander Baji Prabhu Deshpande. Their plan: race to the nearby fort of Vishalgad before dawn. But the enemy gave chase.

At the narrow pass of Pavan Khind, Baji Prabhu turned to face the entire enemy army with just three hundred soldiers. "Maharaj, go — do not stop until you hear the cannon of Vishalgad!" he said. Baji Prabhu fought to his last breath, holding the pass alone, until he heard the distant cannon signalling that Shivaji had reached safety.