I just watched an absolutely mind-blowing movie (Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja) that’s being hailed as the next big blockbuster in the South Indian film industry. Now, while everyone is busy buzzing about the latest Marvel blockbuster—no, I’m not going to talk about ‘Deadpool and Wolverine‘—or the retarded Kalki of Prabhas, there’s another action-packed gem that quietly dropped and completely blew audiences away.

Initially, people thought it was just another run-of-the-mill South Indian film, predictable and boring. But as the story of Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja unfolded, it kept building and adding its own unique flavor, turning into something extraordinary. Trust me, this movie is an experience you don’t want to miss. Maharaja is the polar opposite of ‘Hi Nanna’ that I reviewed previously but packs a similar emotional punch.

I highly recommend you go watch Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja right now before reading further. Spoilers are coming, and I don’t want to ruin the thrill for you! Also, you can dig into some recent reviews of mine – Laapataa Ladies, Amar Singh Chamkila, and 12th Fail to name a few!!! 

Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja: Chains of Destiny

Maharaja, a quiet barber in Chennai, leads a simple life working at Ramki Saloon. Tragedy strikes when a truck crashes into his house, killing his wife. His daughter, Jothi, miraculously survives after a dustbin falls over her, shielding her from harm. Out of affection, Maharaja and Jothi name the dustbin “Lakshmi.”

One day, Maharaja heads to the police station to report an odd crime: someone has stolen Lakshmi, the dustbin. The cops, amused by this, agree to investigate only after Maharaja offers a ₹5 lakh bribe. They rope in a shady informant named Nallasivam to act as the “culprit.” Now, do you feel any intrigue towards Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja?! I bet you do!

Flashback to 2009: A pair of criminals, Selvam and Sabari, terrorized homes, assaulting women and leaving a trail of death. One fateful day, Selvam is at Ramki Saloon when he suspects that Maharaja overheard a phone call about their crimes.

He leaves but forgets a gold chain meant for his daughter, Ammu. Maharaja, in a twist of fate, goes to return it, only to witness the police raiding the house, killing Sabari and arresting Selvam. Selvam is convinced Maharaja betrayed him.

Present day (2024): Maharaja’s calm life takes a dark turn when three men—Selvam, Nallasivam, and a delinquent named Dhana—break into his home to kill him. But Maharaja isn’t there. Instead, they brutally assault Jothi, and Nallasivam rapes her. She survives but is hospitalized. Maharaja, burning with vengeance, tracks down Dhana and kills him after learning that one of the culprits is inside the police station.

Maharaja then concocts the dustbin robbery story to get Nallasivam, who plays along, thinking it was all a simple ruse. But the police, already aware of Nallasivam’s involvement in the assault on Jothi, bring him to Maharaja under the guise of “returning” the stolen dustbin. Instead, they deliver him to Maharaja for vigilante justice. Maharaja kills him, but not before learning the identity of the third accomplice—Selvam.

 In a final showdown, Maharaja incapacitates Selvam and brings Jothi face-to-face with her tormentor. In a tragic twist, Selvam realizes Jothi is none other than his long-lost daughter, Ammu, who survived the accident years ago. Horrified by his own actions, Selvam throws himself off a building, consumed by guilt. Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja is such an emotion-inducing action-packed tragedy that will leave you awe-stuck.

Nails and Details

Let’s dive into some of the brilliant and subtle details that made Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja truly stand out. Early on, there’s a powerful scene where Maharaja buys a stone statue of a mother and child. When the tragic accident occurs, the statue slips from his hands and shatters.

Interestingly, the mother’s face is completely broken, but the child’s remains intact, symbolizing his wife’s death and his daughter’s survival. But in a twist at the end, when it’s revealed that Jothi is Selvam’s daughter, the filmmakers cleverly revisit this scene. This time, the child’s face also breaks, signaling that in the accident, neither Maharaja’s wife nor his child survived—a haunting reflection of the truth.

Another brilliant modern touch was the use of text messages throughout the movie. When Maharaja reads his daughter’s message about buying new shoes, the text box shows the actual date—a subtle detail most people might miss. Typically, messages show ‘Now,’ ‘Today,’ or ‘Yesterday,’ but the deliberate use of dates here mirrors the changing timeline of the film, adding layers of meaning to each transition.

A key turning point occurs when Dhana informs Maharaja that one of the attackers is from the police. This revelation gives context to why Maharaja goes to the police station—not to file a complaint, but to confront the corrupt officer responsible for the assault on his daughter.

There’s also the clever detail involving Maharaja’s interactions with the police. His daughter had told him that one of the rapists had a distinctive mark on his back, resembling an ear. Throughout the movie, we see Maharaja subtly patting, slapping, or touching the backs of various officers, a quiet yet powerful search for his daughter’s attacker.

Inspector Varadharajan’s sudden decision to let Maharaja determine the fate of the culprit stems from a scene shown earlier in the film—he, too, has a daughter. Though he’s taken bribes and indulged in corruption, his protective instincts toward children make him soften when it comes to Maharaja’s quest for justice.

As for the snake symbolism, it’s likely a metaphor for Selvam’s character. Snakes are known for sometimes eating their own eggs, a disturbing parallel to Selvam preying on his own daughter without realizing it. Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja perfectly embodies the proverb ‘What goes around, comes around,’ as shown in the movie’s poster. Every detail, no matter how small, is meticulously crafted to tie into the larger narrative.

 These intricate details are what make this film extraordinary. The creators put immense thought into every scene, leaving no stone unturned. While I’ve highlighted some of the key moments that stood out to me, I’m sure there are many more hidden layers that viewers can discover.

Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja: The Artisans of the Cinema

Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, who co-wrote the script with Raam Murali. Produced by The Route, Think Studios, and Passion Studios, the film stars Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role, with Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, Natarajan Subramaniam, Abhirami Gopikumar, Singampuli, Aruldoss, Munishkanth, Sachana Namidass, Manikandan, and Bharathiraja rounding out the cast.

Announced in February 2023 as VJS50—a nod to Sethupathi’s 50th film in a leading role—production began the same month, with most of the filming taking place in Chennai. The official title was revealed in July, marking the end of the filming process and the addition of Think Studios as co-producers. The film features a score by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, with cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman and editing by Philomin Raj.

Released globally on June 14, 2024, Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja was met with acclaim from critics, who praised Sethupathi’s compelling performance, Philomin Raj’s sharp editing, and Swaminathan’s meticulous writing and direction. The film not only set a record for the highest opening weekend of Tamil cinema in 2024 but also became the third highest-grossing Tamil film of the year.

Maharaja: The Pinnacle of Storytelling

Vijay Sethupathi Maharaja stands out as one of the finest Tamil films I’ve seen in years. The suspense and plot twists left me thoroughly captivated. This film has the power to make a profound impact on its audience, offering bold storytelling and exceptional execution. It truly deserves every accolade and recognition for its innovative narrative and masterful direction.

With “Maharaja,” Nithilan Swaminathan solidifies his reputation as a master storyteller, skillfully weaving an emotional and thrilling cinematic experience. Hats off to the entire team for delivering such a remarkable film. “Maharaja” is not just a movie; it’s a cinematic gem that redefines excellence in Tamil cinema.