Maharaja: Vijay Sethupathi Delivers A Stellar Performance In His 50th Film
After his directorial debut Korangu Bommai (2017), Nithilan Swaminathan is back after seven years with another thriller and Vijay Sethupathi, aka ‘Makkal Selvan’s’ 50th film, Maharaja. The reviews are out and the film has so far been positive with Sethupathi’s stellar performance getting praises from everyone.
Maharaja (Sethupathi) lives with his daughter Jothi (Sachana Nemidas) when one day he visits Chennai’s Pallikaranai police station to lodge a complaint about ‘Lakshmi’ being stolen. The mystery behind the missing ‘Lakshmi’ (is it a person? Treasure? Something else?) holds a crucial piece of the story and is behind the character of Maharaja.
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As per India Today, while in the first half of the film multiple storylines run one after the other in a disjointed manner, they converge in the second half, but the lead-up to it is filled with “convenient writing choices.” It also added that the film relies too much on orchestrated twists and violence to generate emotions within the audience.
The non-linear narrative works for the film thanks to its engaging story and red herrings spread across the sub-plots, reviews the Hindustan Times. It also notes the importance of the female characters, who, although having relatively smaller roles, play a crucial part in the unravelling of the story. Mamta Mohandas, Sachana Nemidas, and Abhirami give good performances.
Nevertheless, there seems to be a consensus on Vijay Sethupathi, who has delivered the role of Maharaja, both as a loving father and a nuanced character who undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the film. With his realistic portrayal, a staple feature in his craft, Sethupathi’s strong suit lies in “bringing ideas to the table rather than relying on power-packed dialogues, machismo, or over-the-top drama,” as Timeline’s Nadeer Ashraf puts it.
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Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap, who plays a common man with different shades, emerges as a surprise element and delivers a strong performance.
Overall, reviews across agree that the film, though flawed in certain areas, relies on its actors, who nail their characters. Maharaja is a good watch, with Vijay Sethupathi shining through brightly.
