Common Sense Media Review
By Ishmeet Nagpal
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Father turns vigilante in violent Indian thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Maharaja
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MAHARAJA (Vijay Sethupathi) is a seemingly unassuming man who approaches the police to help him find a stolen dustbin. However, his real intentions are in fact to seek out and punish the men who assaulted his teenage daughter, Jothi (Sachana Namidass).
Is It Any Good?
This Indian Tamil-language action thriller is both disturbing and gory. Maharaja depicts the rape of a teenage girl by men who clearly do not see women and girls as human beings, showing none of the empathy they reserve for their own daughters. These events fuel the victim's father's desire for vigilante justice. While audiences are left to grapple with the morality of Maharaja's revenge mission, the film highlights the failure of the legal system to support survivors and their families affected by sexual violence. For Maharaja, this leaves him with no other choice but to exact his own brutal punishment for the attack on his daughter, Jothi. However, the film raises a larger question: Does revenge or punishment actually address the root of rape culture? Despite the film centering its narrative on male characters rather than the victim's perspective, Jothi herself offers an answer, saying that she and her peers encounter men like her assailants every day. So while Maharaja's vengeance may deliver justice for her attackers, the pervasive issue of sexual violence remains unresolved for her and countless others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Maharaja. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
What did you think of the film's message about vigilante justice? Was Maharaja justified in his actions? Why, or why not? Do you think justice was served?
Talk about Jothi. What character strengths did she demonstrate? Do you think her story and emotions were given enough focus, especially compared to the male characters?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 13, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : July 12, 2024
- Cast : Vijay Sethupathi , Anurag Kashyap , Sachana Namidass
- Director : Nithilan Saminathan
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Thriller
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 141 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 22, 2025
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