Featuring the distinctive actor Vijay Sethupathi, ‘Maharaja‘ is a crime and suspense thriller that premiered in theaters on June 14 and achieved unexpected success. The film was a hit across all the languages in which it was released. Despite minimal promotions and lacking a star-studded cast, the movie demonstrated that compelling content alone can drive success. For those who missed it in theaters, a leading OTT platform has announced that it will soon be streaming the film. Let’s delve into why ‘Maharaja’ was such a success and examine the elements that captivated the audience.
When is it Streaming?
The movie ‘Maharaja’, directed by Nithilan Swaminathan and featuring Vijay Sethupathi, has locked its OTT release date. It is set to captivate OTT audiences and will start streaming on Netflix from July 12. The platform has announced that the film will be available in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The cast includes notable appearances by Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, Nataraj, Bharathiraja, and Abhirami.
₹100 Crore Collections
‘Maharaja’ marks the 50th film in Vijay Sethupathi’s career. There were no significant expectations for the movie prior to its release, and the production team did not undertake extensive promotions. Yet, the film started with a bang in theaters, quickly garnering positive reviews and substantial box office returns. Recently, it joined the ₹100 crore club, astounding everyone. This milestone, achieved in just a few days, was announced by the makers with a special poster, once again proving that content-driven films can command a massive audience.
Reasons for Success!
Director Nithilan Swaminathan crafted ‘Maharaja’ as a unique action thriller. Although the film follows a conventional revenge action drama structure, its screenplay mesmerized the audience. The narrative, spanning past and future timelines, impressed with its unpredictable twists and emotionally charged storytelling. Particularly, the twists during the interval and climax sequences, along with Vijay Sethupathi’s action, won over the audience. Furthermore, the portrayal of Vijay Sethupathi’s character deeply resonated with viewers. The injustice done to Maharaja’s daughter moved the audience profoundly, and the revelation of his deep-seated anger even had the police sympathizing with his cause. These elements are why ‘Maharaja’ achieved such remarkable success.
What is the Story?
Maharaja (Vijay Sethupathi), a barber, loses his wife in an unforeseen accident and lives secludedly with his daughter Jyothi, away from the city. One day, Maharaja, injured, goes to the police station to report that intruders attacked him at his home and abducted Lakshmi, who had saved his daughter’s life. He pleads with the police to find Lakshmi at any cost. Who is Lakshmi? Why was Maharaja attacked? What is his vendetta with the attackers? What injustice was done to Maharaja’s daughter? What is the strategy behind Maharaja’s visit to the station? This forms the crux of the story.
