Maharaj (2024) is an Indian Hindi-language historical drama film directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra and produced by YRF Entertainment. The film marks the acting debut of Junaid Khan, who stars alongside acclaimed actors Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, and Sharvari. The story is inspired by the real-life Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, a landmark legal battle in colonial India, and is based on the novel by Saurabh Shah that explores the complexities surrounding the case.
Set in 19th-century British India, Maharaj delves into issues of social reform, religious authority, and freedom of the press, highlighting a journalist’s courageous stand against powerful figures in society. The film generated considerable controversy prior to its release.
Originally slated for a 14 June 2024 premiere, its debut was postponed after the Gujarat High Court stayed its release in response to a petition from a Hindu group, which alleged that the film could provoke unrest among followers of the Pushtimarga Sampradaya, a Hindu sect. Despite the legal hurdles, the film was eventually released on 21 June 2024 on Netflix.
Cast and Crew
- Directer: Siddharth P. Malhotra
- Writter: Vipul Mehta, Sneha Desai
- Producer: Aditya Chopra
- Star Cast: Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, Sharvari
- Cinematography: Rajeev Ravi
- Editer: Shweta Venkat Mathew
- Production company: YRF Entertainment
- Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
- Distributor: Netflix
- Release date: 21 June 2024
- Running time: 131 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Maharaj 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Junaid Khan as Karsandas Mulji
- Jaideep Ahlawat as Maharaj Jadunath Brijratan “JJ”
- Shalini Pandey as Kishori, Mulji’s ex-fiancee
- Sharvari as Viraaj, Mulji’s employee, comrade, and friend
- Viraf Patel as Sorabji, Mulji’s friend and confidant
- Sunil Gupta as Dadabhai Naoroji
- Vaibhav Tatwawadi as Dr. Bhau Daji Lad
- Meher Vij as Vahuji, JJ’s wife
- Jay Upadhyay as Giridhar Khawas
- Ananya Agarwal as Devi, Kishori’s sister
- Priyal Gor as Leelavati
- Sandeep Mehta as Mulji, Karen’s father
- Sneha Desai as Bhabhu, Karen’s aunt
- Sanjeev Seth as Karan’s maternal uncle
- Jaya Ojha as Karan’s maternal aunt
- Utkarsh Mazumdar as Lalvanji Maharaj
- Jamie Alter as Defense Attorney Amnesty
- Mark Bennington as Prosecutor Bailey
- Edward Sonnenblick as Justice Sausse
- Sanjay Goradia as Nanubhai
- Sharad Kelkar as Narrator
- Kamlesh Oza as Shaamji
- Hemant Choudhary as Shraddhalu
Story of the film
In pre-independence Bombay, Karsan and his fiancée, Kishori, belong to the Maharaj “JJ”-led haveli. Karsan is outraged when Kishori is selected to carry out charan seva, a purported “ritual” that consists only of JJ engaging in sexual activity with females, even though Kishori believes she did nothing wrong. After ending their engagement, Karsan is banished by his family. Although Kishori understands that JJ’s ideals are flawed, she still feels as though she has lost Karsan forever. Kishori commits herself before Karsan can inform her that he will give her another opportunity. She requests Karsan to reveal JJ’s wickedness to the world in her parting letter.
Karsan attempts to reveal JJ’s behavior, but JJ and his supporters put up several barriers. But with Viraaj’s aid, he acquires followers and publishes JJ’s transgressions in his newspaper, which starts to sway followers’ views. Karsan’s father is threatened by JJ, who is furious, to stop publishing, but Karsan remains unflinching. After some time, JJ sues Karsan for slander. Viraaj urges Karsan to fight for women like herself who were compelled to conduct charan seva and lacked a voice to do so, even though he receives little support.
Karsan takes the stand and exposes JJ’s misreadings of the Bible and his abuse of women and girls, even though JJ discredits Karsan’s testimonies. Women in the trial support Karsan and testify against JJ as he discusses the significance of not needing a bridge like JJ to approach God, demonstrating the veracity of the statements Karsan made in his publication. Karsan is exonerated of the slander allegations. Karsan is praised by the public, but JJ loses supporters.
Production
Pre-production started in November 2020, and the movie started shooting in February 2021. The production was halted during filming and concluded in October 2023.
Songs/Music
Sohail Sen, Alap Desai, Sanchit Balhara, and Ankit Balhara composed the music for the movie, while Kausar Munir and Sneha Desai wrote the lyrics.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer |
| 1 | “Achutam Keshavam” | Traditional | Sohail Sen | Sonu Nigam, Osman Mir |
| 2 | “Holi Ke Rang Ma” | Kausar Munir | Sohail Sen | Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Osman Mir, Sohail Sen |
| 3 | “Haan Ke Haan” | Kausar Munir | Sohail Sen | Monali Thakur |
| 4 | “Gurujan” | Sneha Desai | Alap Desai | Sangeeta Labadiya |
| 5 | “The Love Ballad Theme” | Sanchit Balhara-Ankit Balhara | ||
| 6 | “Viraj’s Theme” | Sanchit Balhara-Ankit Balhara | ||
| 7 | “The Face-off Theme: Karsan VS Maharaj” | Sanchit Balhara-Ankit Balhara |
Review
Rotten Tomatoes, a website that aggregates reviews, has an average rating of 4.9/10, with 29% of the reviews from 14 critics being favorable.
A Bollywood Hungama critic gave the movie a rating of 3.5 stars and noted that Maharaj makes a significant point. Its audience will grow even more as a result of the demonstrations and legal troubles.
NDTV’s Saibal Chatterjee gave the movie a two-star rating out of five, noting that while some aspects of Maharaj are effective, several others aren’t. Never has a historical drama with so much to say been so passive and unproductive.
The only one who is totally in tune with the film’s tone is Jaideep Ahlawat, who has given us a dharm ka the Kedar to beat all dharm ke the ears, commented Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, who also rated the movie two stars out of five.
Rediff.com user Sukanya Verma gave the movie a rating of two stars out of five, pointing out that Maharaj’s weak social drama has the guts and tenacity to replicate the significance of revolutionary choices in the face of religious fanaticism.
Indian Sana Farzeen. As a novice, Junaid Khan appears comfortable and confident on screen, according to today’s review, which scored it 3.5 stars out of 5. “Maharaj” is a bold and unorthodox debut pick, and Khan grabs your interest. As anticipated, Jaideep Ahlawat delivers a faultless performance once more. He is just as smooth as JJ.
Despite being set in the pre-independence era, the plot and the struggle against “bhakt culture” are still relevant today, according to Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times.
Vyavahare Renuka According to the Times of India, which gave it a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5, the movie isn’t a courtroom thriller despite being based on a genuine tale. The circumstances leading up to the court case that was heard in the British court in Bombay are recounted in this historical play.
According to Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu, a movie as straightforward, calm, and self-congratulatory as “Maharaj” would probably go unnoticed if it weren’t for the touchiness of our times.
According to Nandini Ramnath, a writer for Scroll., the movie hardly passes as a period piece. Neither the monumentality of Karsan’s choice to join a strong cult nor the sensitivity of religious sentiment can be adequately conveyed by the filmmakers. Critiquing cultish behavior is difficult when the feeling that motivates it lacks inquiry.
Box office
Not Released.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025g, May 2). Maharaj (film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharaj_(film)
- Maharaj (2024)? 6.7 | Biography, Crime, Drama. (2024, June 21). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4501268/
