Maharaj Review: Junaid Khan's Debut Film Is A Sinking Ship That Even Jaideep Ahlawat Couldn't Save

Maharaj Review: A film on a similar theme, Ek Banda Kaafi Hai, was outstanding, but here, even two actors, Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, aren't enough.

Maharaj Review: "A devotee is incomplete without questions, and a religion is incomplete without answers." This film engages in a dialogue with the so-called protectors of religion, but ironically, it itself lacks something crucial—good screenplay, direction, and acting. A few days ago, a court had put a stay on this film, leading to expectations that it might be quite controversial. However, even after the stay was lifted, it failed to stir any significant controversy. A film on a similar theme, Ek Banda Kaafi Hai, was outstanding, but here, even two actors, Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, aren't enough.

Story: This film is based on Saurabh Shah's book Maharaj, which revolves around the 1862 Maharaj libel case fought in the Bombay High Court. It narrates the story of the renowned journalist and social worker, Karsandas Mulji, who raised his voice against the societal malpractices of the time. Upon discovering that a religious leader, Jadunath Maharaj, was exploiting women under the guise of spiritual service, he took a stand. When Karsandas' own fiancée became a victim, he couldn't remain silent and used both his voice and pen to fight back. Jadunath Maharaj filed a defamation case against him, which Karsandas ultimately won.

Film Quality: There have been previous films on similar issues, with Ek Banda Kaafi Hai being quite successful. However, this film feels weak in comparison. It doesn't seem like the debut film of Aamir Khan's son, as the screenplay is weak, the direction lacks punch, and there's no scene powerful enough to move the audience. The production value appears very low, making it a difficult film to endure. It fails to offer anything worth spending over two hours on.

Acting: All eyes were on Junaid Khan, son of Aamir Khan, but this film shows that he deserved a better debut. He fails to leave a significant impact, and much more was expected of him. Jaideep Ahlawat, known for his remarkable acting skills, disappoints for the first time. In this role, he was expected to deliver a much stronger performance but falls short. Shalini Pandey does a good job, and Sharvari gives the best performance among the cast, but when the screenplay and main characters are weak, there's little even the best actress can do.

Direction: Siddharth P. Malhotra's direction is average. He fails to include any scene that truly stands out. It feels like the film was just directed without any particular vision or impact. It's puzzling why Yash Raj Films allowed such a project to be made in this manner.

Conclusion: Overall, it's better to rewatch Ek Banda Kaafi Hai.

Rating: 1/5 star.