Maharaja is a 2024 Tamil action thriller. It is directed by Nithilan Saminathan and co-written by Ram Murali. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role along with Anurag Kashyap, Sachna Namidas, Mamata Mohandas, and others.
The plot centers on a barber who tells the police that his wife is missing after a robbery at their home. However, the police soon uncover his true intentions.
Initially called VJS50 to mark Vijay Sethupathi’s 50th lead role, the film was shot in a single take in Chennai. It was later renamed Maharaja in July 2023, with Think Studios joining as co-producers. B. Ajnesh Loknath composed the music, Dinesh Purushoman handled the cinematography and Philomene Raj edited the film.
Maharaja premiered on 14 June 2024, to critical acclaim from both critics and audiences.
Maharaja Movie Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Nithilan Saminathan |
| Written by | Nithilan Saminathan |
| Dialogues by | Nithilan Saminathan, Raam Murali |
| Produced by | Sudhan Sundaram, Jagadish Palanisamy |
| Starring | Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Sachana Namidass, Mamta Mohandas, Natarajan Subramaniam, Abhirami |
| Cinematography | Dinesh Purushothaman |
| Edited by | Philomin Raj |
| Music by | B. Ajaneesh Loknath |
| Production companies | Passion Studios, The Route, Think Studios |
| Distributed by | See below |
| Release date | 14 June 2024 |
| Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹20 crore |
| Box office | est. ₹46 crore |
Maharaja Starring Cast & Crew
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Vijay Sethupathi | Maharaja |
| Anurag Kashyap | Selvam |
| Sachana Namidass | Jyothi / Ammu |
| Mamta Mohandas | Aasifa |
| Natarajan Subramaniam | Inspector S. Varadharajan |
| Abhirami | Kokila |
| Divya Bharathi | Selvi, Maharaja’s wife |
| Singampuli | Nallasivam |
| Aruldoss | Sub-inspector R. K. Perumalsamy |
| Munishkanth | Constable Kuzhandhaivelu |
| Vinod Sagar | Sabari |
| Manikandan | Dhana |
| Kaalaiyan | Councillor Karunakaran |
| Kalki | Thief who steals TVS 50 |
| P. L. Thenappan | Salon Owner |
| Saravana Subbiah | Inspector |
| Vetrivel Raja | Constable |
| Bharathiraja | Gopal Thatha |
| Mohan Raman | Doctor Uncle |
| Poovaiyar | Boy in Salon |
| Lizzie Antony | Victim of robbery |
| Poster Nandakumar | School Correspondent |
| Sangeetha V | Varadharajan’s wife |
| Supergood Subramani | Selvam’s neighbour |
| Mullai Arasi | Thief’s wife |
| Baby Shynika | Selvam’s Daughter |
Maharaja Worldwide Box Office Collection
| Day | Gross (INR crore) | Gross (USD million) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | ₹4.7 crore | $0.56 million |
| Day 2 | ₹7.75 crore | $0.93 million |
| Day 3 | ₹9 crore | $1.1 million |
| Opening Weekend | ₹32.6 crore | $3.9 million |
| Day 4 | ₹27.50 crore | $3.3 million |
| Total Gross (India) | ₹40 crore | $4.8 million |
| Total Worldwide Gross | ₹46 crore | $5.5 million |
- ₹30 crore earnings from Tamil Nadu (Day 5)
- Global gross crossing ₹46 crore in five days
Maharaja OTT Release Date
Maharaja hit theaters on June 14, 2024 in both Tamil and Telugu versions. Ahead of its official release, critics and select audiences got a sneak peek at a special screening on June 12. Originally planned for May, the movie was moved to June for logistical reasons. Excitingly, Maharaja will be screened as the special closing night attraction at the Los Angeles Indian Film Festival on June 28, 2024.
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#MaharajaReleaseTrailer out now
— VijaySethupathi (@VijaySethuOffl) June 11, 2024
Tamil : https://t.co/fUWvcgc4Ye
Telugu : https://t.co/RTogejw0nr#MaharajaFromJune14
Written and Directed by @Dir_Nithilan@anuragkashyap72 @mamtamohan @Natty_Nataraj @Abhiramiact@AjaneeshB @Philoedit @DKP_DOP @Selva_ArtDir @rajakrishnan_mr… pic.twitter.com/VYsn4TT9Ii
Maharaja: Well-Known Story, Review
Nithilan Saminathan’s film “Maharaja” starring Vijay Sethupathi is a perfect example of how a simple plot can be turned into a captivating story with a bit of creativity. This thriller keeps you hooked by presenting familiar elements in a new and interesting way. Instead of going overboard, the film, which is Sethupathi’s 50th, maintains a steady grip on your attention with a “John Wick”-like style.
Maharaja, the main character, owns a saloon and is a loving father to his daughter, who is very active in sports. His wife died in a tragic accident and the iron dustbin that saved his daughter during the accident holds a special place in his heart. The story begins when Maharaja is attacked at home by masked men who steal a dustbin while his daughter is away at a sporting event. He reports the theft to the police, and the film follows his determined efforts to track down the attackers and recover the dustbin, which he calls “Lakshmi”.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
What makes “Maharaja” so compelling is how Nithilan tells the story. It cleverly conveys information, leads the audience to make certain assumptions, and then surprises them with new revelations. The opening flashbacks are designed to mislead but also provide enough clues for the viewer to feel confident in their guesses. When the true story is revealed, it makes the previous scenes more meaningful. The film easily shifts from a mostly funny story about a man’s obsession with a dustbin to a heartwarming tale of a protective father. Each character and subplot is carefully crafted to add depth to the main story.
Vijay Sethupathi excels in his role, appearing in most of the scenes. He plays a man who has lost a lot and puts all his energy into his daughter. His reserved demeanor seems natural and consistent throughout the film. A memorable scene is when he apologizes to the principal who falsely accused his daughter, showing his strong yet realistic character.
Anurag Kashyap plays a villain with a solid backstory, which makes the climax all the more impressive. Although Mamata Mohandas and Abhirami have limited screen time, they make an impression. Singapuli excels in unconventional roles, and Natarajan Subramaniam is convincing as a corrupt cop.
Nithilan knows that the theme of revenge is not new. Many films have used it, but his screenplay stands out by cleverly revealing its twists. The story makes you think two events are happening at the same time, only to later reveal a difference in the timeline that changes your understanding of the plot. The climax is emotionally similar to the Malayalam thriller “Eratta”, but feels like a creative twist that adds to the drama.
Nithilan stages the scenes to effectively depict the power dynamics, and editor Philomene Raj plays a key role in maintaining the suspense. Only when Netty’s character and the other officials decide to help does the Maharaja get a bit of a rush.
Maharaja is an action thriller with strong characters and emotions. Although it has elements of a commercial film, Nithilan avoids making the hero too unrealistic. With an original performance by Vijay Sethupathi and a script that creatively recreates a familiar formula, “Maharaja” is a film worthy of praise.
