Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi is popular for his exceptional and riveting performances. He has chosen 'Maharaja' as his landmark 50th film. The film is directed by Nithilan Swaminathan who earned fame with the much acclaimed 'Kurangu Bommai'. Maharaja is simultaneously releasing in Telugu and Tamil on 14 June 2024. Let us find out how Maharaja fared at the box office.
Maharaja story is all about a barber who surprises all with his actions and leaves the people surrounding him and the cops completely puzzled and at their wit's end. In the film Maharaja, Vijay Sethupathi stars as a barber who leads a contented life with his daughter Jyothi, played by Sachana Nemidas. One day, when Jyothi attends a sports meet, Maharaja unexpectedly visits the police station to file a missing person report for someone named Lakshmi. The story then delves into the mystery of who Lakshmi is, what happened to her, and how these events are connected to the physical education teacher Asifa (Mamta Mohandas), Inspector Varadan (Natty), and Selvam (Anurag Kashyap). The rest of the narrative unfolds as these characters and their intertwined fates come to light.
Vijay Sethupathi delivers a compelling performance as a barber on a mission to track down criminals in Maharaja. He skillfully portrays a range of emotions and expressions, striking the right balance without going overboard. His silent yet intense portrayal is captivating.
Anurag Kashyap's portrayal of a powerful character leaves an impact, but the lack of lip sync in his performance can be a disconnecting factor for viewers. His villainy is on point and leaves desired tension among the audience.
Divya Bharati and Abhirami shine in their roles as wives, portraying them aptly. Mamta Mohandas delivers a solid performance, and Natty fits well into his role as a cop. The rest of the cast also performs admirably, contributing to the film's narrative.
Maharaja story penned by Nithilan Swaminathan is interesting. The narration in "Maharaja" starts well in an intriguing manner but dips in momentum. Director Nithilan's screenplay Captivates the viewers throughout the film. Though, the slow pace and repetitive scenes feel as hurdles at times, it is the screenplay, which withholds the audience's attention till the very end.
The first half establishes an interest in the lead character's plight, while the second half engages in a significant watch while maintaining suspense until the pre-climax. However, the climax's extreme violence may be off-putting to some viewers, but the emotions worked out well.
Philomin Raj's editing could have been tighter, as the numerous repetitive scenes slow down the narrative. Dinesh Purushottaman's cinematography is a highlight, presenting scenes realistically. Ajaneesh Loknath's background score enhances the film's intensity effectively, even though there are no songs. Overall, the production values are decent.
Altogether, Maharaja turns out to be skillfully made revenge thriller with emotionally charged scenes and moreover a terrific effort of Vijay Sethupathi. He poured his heart and soul into his milestone 50th film. On the downside the film suffered from repetitive scenes and extreme violence at times, but succeeded in providing a suspenseful and engaging experience. Taking these aspects into consideration, Cinejosh has given "Maharaja" a rating of 2.75 stars.