Susan Pyakurel (Kshitiz)

Reviews and other content aren't verified by Google

Pros: Maharaja is a movie that will keep the audience hooked on their seats, provided it is approached without a religious bias and a bit of a non-scrutinizing attitude to the details. Biopics offer glimpses and snapshots into the lives of people and the characters. Still, an authentic narrative takes the viewers even deeper into the character's thought process and Maharaja does a decent job at it, especially of the main characters. The cinematography hauntingly builds on a sense of an impending climax that foreshadows the classic battle of good versus evil. The character portrayals by select characters are excellent, especially by Junaid Khan. His expressions have successfully reflected the demand for most of the shots. It is important to understand that his character is a depiction of a classic 'hero' and thus, the stereotypic over- heroification of his emotions is nonetheless visible. Still, he leaves an impact. The character portrayal of JJ by Jaideep Ahlawat, though technically monotonous per se, successfully conveys the menacing presence of a sect leader who has a constant facade of an evil smirk on him. Among the supporting cast, Jay Upadhya as Giridhar Khawas stands out as an impactful supporting character even with limited screen time. The film has tried to avoid using unnecessary dramatic scenes except in a few romantic frames. A genuine attempt, and a good start for Junaid Khan! Cons: The side characters often seem like namesake placeholders lacking depth and presence, save their dramatic entrances with bland expressions in scattered scenes. The color contrast and hue intended to evoke an 'old' Bombay instead imparts an artificial touch to the cinematography. The storyline missed a great opportunity by not providing a technical portrayal of the court proceedings when the protagonist was in the witness box. The lengthy monologue from the protagonist, who comes across as a motivational speaker rather than a defendant, has diluted the scene's impact and the climax. An opportunity wasted! Overall: If the filmmakers intended to produce a true-to-life biopic embedded with technical precision and details, they have fallen short. However, if they intended to create a biopic that portrays 'snapshots' of the events with a certain degree of 'masala' to engage the audience, they have succeeded. Personal note: I am eager to see how Junaid Khan evolves in the next role! Would he be courageous enough to take up the role of a villain like Jaideep Alhawat or will he keep being the 'good guy'?