‘Maharaj’ is the debut film of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan.Image credit source: Netflix
I saw Aamir Khan’s son Junaid’s first film ‘Maharaj’ in the theatre. The film was banned in the evening on the day Yash Raj held the screening of the film. For a film based on a true story to be banned like this was perplexing. But then came the news that the ban on the film has been lifted, and ‘Maharaj’ has been released on Netflix. Before starting talking about this movie, I want to share that watching this kind of movie in theater is something different. Well, talking about the film, kudos to Junaid Khan for showing the courage to debut with a film like ‘Maharaj’ in today’s age where raising voice against religious contractors is considered a ‘traitor’. Along with entertainment, this film also conveys a strong message.
story
This is the story of Bombay, when there was neither Maharashtra nor Mumbai. In this Kalbadevi area of ​​Bombay, merchants of the Gujarati Vaishnav community who traded in cotton lived with their families. There were seven mansions of Vaishnavas. Out of these 7 havelis, Jadunathji Maharaj i.e. JJ lived in Moti (Big) Haveli. Even though the country and the city were under British rule at that time. But the Gujarati community of Kalbadevi believed only in JJ. He was the head chef of all the mansions. The entire Vaishnava community believed itself to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna and believed everything JJ said. But Karsandas was different from all these.
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Karasandas, who lived with his maternal uncle after his mother’s death, did not believe in untouchability or rituals even 164 years ago. Inspired by social reformers like Dadabhai Naroji, Karasan also started public awareness. He started writing in newspaper to convey his ideas to people. But 25-year-old Karasandas, who was out to reform society, could not save his teenage fiancee, who had lost her mind over her devotion to JJ, from his clutches. What did Karasandas have to do to open the eyes of JJ and his blind followers? You have to watch ‘Maharaj’ on Netflix to know this.
It is said in the Gita, “Dukheshavanudvignaman: sukheshu vigatasprah | vitraagbhayakrodha: sthitadhirmauniruchyate.” That is, a person for whom both sorrow and happiness are equal, who has no fear and anger for anyone, that person is a stable person. We can also call this stable man the perfect man. Junaid Khan’s film ‘Maharaj’ does not target people’s faith or their devotion to religion, rather the contractors of religion who play with people’s emotions and are not stable men at all. Junaid, Jaideep Ahlawat’s acting and Siddharth P Malhotra’s direction honestly try to put before us a topic that needs to be talked about.
Directing, writing and others
There is no fight scene in ‘Maharaj’. If seen, this entire story is based on a court case. But the screenplay of the film, written by Sneha Desai and Vipul Mehta, along with drama and emotion, has also used comedy and romance to taste. From start to finish, Siddharth P Malhotra’s film keeps us engaged till the end with its energetic dialogues. For example, ‘Labourers can go on strike, not God’, ‘I am a Vaishnava by birth, a Brahmin by work, a Kshatriya by nature, and my aim is to help the poor, so I try to clean wherever I see dirt. am ‘, ‘The devotees who do not ask questions are incomplete and the religion which cannot answer is incomplete’, many effective dialogues are included in the film.
Acting
This is the debut film of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid. Junaid, who debuted with a banner like Yash Raj, could have debuted with a typical Bollywood film if he wanted to. And he is also working in many such films. But he made an entry in Bollywood with a film in which he was seen acting. Junaid belongs to theatre, so his gestures, expressions as well as his body language are sometimes a bit over the top, but he does full justice to his role. Acting opposite a seasoned actor like Jaideep Ahlawat in his very first film was not easy. But Junaid tries his best to make his Karasandas match J.J. In the film Sharvari Wala The character is amazing. His entry brings a smile to the face. Shalini Pandey is once again seen in the role of a helpless woman, her character, dressing style and accent varies from film to film, but the acting looks ‘same same, same’. The rest of the actors have also played their roles with sincerity.
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In the climax of Akshay Kumar’s ‘Oh My God’, Mithun Chakraborty’s character tells Kanjeelal (Paresh Rawal) that this faith and devotion is like an addiction to opium. Once an addiction is established, it is not easily released. These people you see are not God loving people. These are God fearing people. If not today, tomorrow will be seen in the ashram. There were 150 years ago, there are today and there will be 50 years from now who take advantage of people’s fear of God. Only this ‘cow’ is related to religion, so we cannot remain silent. This should be openly discussed.
Every month one reads many such news in newspapers, where the guardians of this religion turn into predators and torture and exploit innocent people. There are many victims among them, whose voices do not reach the newspapers, the statistics will make you anxious. Religion changes. But the movements do not stop. Recently Manoj Bajpayee’s film ‘Ek Banda Kafi Hai’ also told the story of a religious leader. Despite being proven guilty, even today this guru is defended on social media only because of religion. No matter how many more Karsandas and PC Solankis have to be born here, only then will people see the criminal not through the prism of religion but through the prism of right and wrong. Till then you can be happy watching such movies.
The makers of Hamara Barah should also learn a lot from this film. No religion is targeted anywhere in the film while portraying the wrong as wrong. Better watch ‘Maharaj’ instead of wasting time watching such movies. Anyway, Gandhiji made the 15th century Gujarati saint Narsi Mehta’s song ‘famous’. The lyrics of this hymn were,
Vaishnava people, you said
Jai Peed Parayi Jaane Re.
But suffering will help you
My mind should not be proud.
That is, those people should be called Vaishnavas, who themselves feel the suffering of others. One who helps every needy person in distress, but never allows ego to enter his mind. And the story of Karasandas in ‘Maharaj’ teaches that a true Vaishnava is not one who exploits people in the name of religion, a true Vaishnava is one who saves people from exploitation. And you should also watch this movie, because the stories of such people should be seen.
Movie: Maharaj
Release: Netflix
Director: Siddharth P Malhotra
Actors: Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Sharwari Wala
Rating: 4 stars
