Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan | 5 Min Read
The greatest strength of director Nithilan Swaminathan’s ‘Maharaja’ is its climax, closely followed by its intricate plot. The screenplay masterfully employs timelines to keep the suspense alive until the very end. If told in a linear fashion, the film would have lost much of its impact. By using a non-linear approach, the writer-director offers a masterclass in writing dark, psychological thrillers. However, the film does have its share of flaws that discerning viewers will easily notice.
Plot Overview:
The story unfolds in a complex weave of past and present. Maharaja, played by Vijay Sethupathi, a barber by profession, visits a police station to report a robbery. But what he claims to have lost leaves the police officers astounded.
He says that a gang of thieves raided his house, attacked him, and stole his dustbin which was of much value to him. The police are reluctant to take up the case because the stolen item is a seemingly worthless dustbin. However, they sense there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Its only much later in the film that we discover the value the dustbin had for the protagonist. Maharaja recounts a tragic accident where a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the house where his wife and daughter were. His wife perished in the accident, but his daughter survived, saved by a metal dustbin that, as if by divine intervention, fell on her head and shielded her from the direct impact. Since then, Maharaja and his daughter have venerated the dustbin, calling it ‘Lakshmi’.
But things don’t add up for the police. They investigate and the revelations are dark to say the least.
Narrative Style:
The narrative often borders on silliness, employing humor that enhances the intrigue, maintaining an underlying sense of dread until the startling revelations unfold. The brilliance lies in delivering the unexpected and unbelievable. Events that seem like a series of happy coincidences are woven into the screenplay with such skill that they feel anything but.
The non-linear stitching of scenes heightens the impact, especially of the much-talked-about climax. By playing with time, the writer disorients the audience, much like “Parasite” did until the doorbell rang at the halfway point. This clever manipulation of past and present blurs the lines, making the audience lose track of time. The revelations deliver one shocking moment after another, making the film a clear winner in terms of sheer entertainment.
Performances:
In his 50th film, Vijay Sethupathi delivers a performance that showcases his exceptional range. The film plays to his strengths, allowing him to seamlessly embody humor, menace, and introspective silence. The supporting cast, including notable names like Abhirami, Mamta Mohandas, and Bharathiraja, have relatively minor roles. However, Natarajan Subramaniam as the corrupt Inspector Varadharajan, Aruldoss as Sub Inspector Perumalsamy, and Singampuli as the cunning Nallasivam deliver standout performances in their significant parts.
Anurag Kashyap, portraying Maharaja’s formidable foe Selvam, embodies a well-written, layered, and complex character. While his performance is largely nuanced, there are moments where a bit more restraint would have been beneficial. Additionally, his lip sync, especially at the beginning, occasionally made his dialogue seem like gibberish. Despite these minor flaws, the casting team has done an excellent job overall.
Technical Aspects:
The background score by Ajaneesh Loknath is a strong point of the film. It captures all the moods of the film, essential for the emotional roller coaster the story takes the audience on.
Conclusion:
It would have been easy for Maharaja to be just another psychological thriller. But writer-director Nithilan Swaminathan finds a way to be inventive with this revenge story. By playing with time, he keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Despite its flaws the film’s many subplots tie up beautifully in the end, delivering an ending that lingers in the minds of audiences long after the credits have rolled.
My Verdict:
IMDb rating: 8.7/10
My rating: 4/5
‘Maharaja’ is streaming on Netflix.
*****
About the author –
Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of ‘Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories’. An enthusiastic blogger he shares his articles, essays, travelogues, book and movie reviews on his blog (www.whatsonsidsmind.com).