Story

Vijay Sethupathi portrays Maharaja, a humble barber from Chennai. After tragically losing his wife, he raises his daughter Jothi as a single parent, cherishing Lakshmi, a very special presence in his life. Maharaja's world revolves around his home and the barbershop where he works. Trouble arises when Jyothi, a 15-year-old promising athlete, attends a sports camp in Coimbatore for a week. Maharaja is assaulted in his own home by three burglars, and Lakshmi is stolen. Though the police initially dismiss his report, they later agree to help when Maharaja offers a substantial bribe to locate Lakshmi. Meanwhile, Selva, an electrician who moonlights as a thief, is introduced. The central questions are: Who is Lakshmi? Is Selva involved in the theft? Why is Maharaja so determined to find Lakshmi? What will the police do to assist Maharaja in his search? 

Analysis

The film "Maharaja" is a complex work that defies straightforward analysis. Its narrative twists and turns make it challenging to dissect in a review. But the movie offers much more than just a gripping story. Throughout the film's runtime, there are subtle yet persistent social commentaries on various issues, from the divide between the wealthy and the destitute, to the corruption within the police system, to the cost of violence. Despite being a crime thriller, "Maharaja" also contains a significant amount of humor that elicits laughter from the audience. Vijay Sethupathi's performance features several crowd-pleasing, larger-than-life moments.

The film also features some intensely graphic action sequences, which some viewers may find satisfying, while others may find them disturbing or unsettling. The real strength of "Maharaja" lies in its exceptional writing. It is a shining example of how a seemingly simple story can be transformed into a thrilling and dramatically compelling experience through skillful storytelling and attention to detail. The film's screenwriters also paid attention to it. Although we don't notice it at first, every scene of the film, especially the first half, is a well-choreographed production, with a great result at the end. This keeps us trapped in history. The second half drags in places, but that's good.

The audience does not expect the unexpected twists of the story at all, but this is not a trick. There is a reason the story is told the way it is: the whole narrative leaves the audience in awe. The final parts of the film are more sad than exciting, and the audience already knows how the film will end, but this is not a big problem.

Performance

The film is driven by strong performances throughout. Maharaja is an interesting character. Although Vijay Sethupathi looks shy, he is very determined and strong. He will do anything to get what he wants. Vijay Sethupathi plays this character perfectly, conveying his cowardice through his body and his strength through his intense eyes. In the rest of the film, the same eyes show a lot of sadness. Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap, who previously played a villainous character in Nayantara's Anjali CBI, plays the main antagonist of Maharaja. Unlike most thieves who are psychopaths, Selva seems to have taken up this profession to support his family. Although he doesn't shy away from killing, he is also portrayed as a devoted family man. Anurag is both captivating and menacing.

Cinematographer-turned-actor Natarajan Subramanian (Nathi) plays a corrupt police officer who agrees to help Maharaja in his search for Lakshmi for a lot of money. He is cunning and funny and often lets his greed, ego and mistrust shine through in his performances. Abhirami plays Selva's wife and Mamta Mohandas plays Jyoti's mentor Ashifa. Although none of them play the main roles, their presence fully supports the rest of the cast.

Maharaja's production values are very realistic. Maharaj lives with his daughter in a pink house outside the city. There are fields in front of the house and tall skyscrapers in the back. This is one example of a movie going out of its way to bring the location closer to reality. Cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman also worked in favor of the film. Editor Philomin Raj has one of the toughest jobs in the film industry and she is up to the task perfectly. The background score by B. Ajaneesh Loknath gives the film a huge sound and mood.

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