Maharaj Review: Junaid Khan's Promising Debut In A Riveting Historical Drama

Maharaj Review: For the first time in the Indian film industry, especially on OTT platforms, a film has been released without any teaser, trailer, or songs. Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan makes his Bollywood debut with "Maharaj," which started streaming on Netflix today. Produced by Aditya Chopra (YRF) and directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, known for films like "We Are Family" and "Hichki," the movie has generated curiosity. But is it worth watching? Let's find out.

"Maharaj" is set in the 1800s and revolves around Karsandas (Junaid Khan), who has always questioned societal traditions since childhood. After his mother's demise, he grows up in Bombay with his maternal uncle's family. Belonging to the Vaishnav community, Karsandas discovers a tradition called Charan Seva at their Haveli (Temple) in Bombay, led by Maharaj (Jaideep Ahlawat), who has many devotees. As a journalist, Karsandas decides to expose Maharaj after a personal incident and starts writing about him in a newspaper. The unfolding events form the crux of the story.

The movie is based on Saurabh Shah's book titled "Maharaj." Unlike Siddharth P. Malhotra's previous light-hearted dramas, this film is intense and grand. While it begins on an engaging note, the slow pace causes it to dip before picking up again during the pre-climax and climax portions. Overall, it is good in parts.

Junaid Khan makes a promising debut without much fanfare. He has a strong screen presence and exudes confidence. However, Jaideep Ahlawat's portrayal of Maharaj stands out with his excellent performance, capturing the character's cunningness perfectly.

The female leads also deliver strong performances. Shalini Pandey impresses with her major scenes, while Sharvari lifts the film during its slower moments with her perfect comic timing and captivating performance.

Siddharth Malhotra has successfully extracted commendable performances from his actors.

The songs are decent, and the background score is good. However, given that it's a YRF film, expectations were higher in this department.

Maharaj Review Final Verdict

"Maharaj" offers an interesting premise with Siddharth P. Malhotra's narration being effective in parts. The actors' performances elevate the film, making it worth a watch on Netflix.