Following the critical acclaim of his last film, 'Merry Christmas', directed by Sriram Raghavan, Vijay Sethupathi returns with 'Maharaja', his 50th movie. Tamil cinema has recently focused on social issues, and 'Maharaja', a slow-burning revenge drama, is no exception. This movie is a fitting milestone for Sethupathi’s 50th film, in which he delivers a subtle yet powerful performance.

The story follows Maharaja (played by Sethupathi), a man in his late forties, who lives with his daughter Jothi (Sachana Nemidas). One day, Maharaja goes to the police to file a missing report for 'Lakshmi', which turns out to be a dustbin. The story takes place in a darker, more subdued version of Chennai, as reflected in the set design and cinematography, preparing the audience for a gritty and violent experience.

The background score boosts the impact. In the first half, viewers might find themselves puzzled as multiple parallel stories unfold alongside the main plot, but the connections become clearer in the second half of the movie. The first half focuses on establishing the story and characters, which initially, might seem a bit confusing.

Director Nithilan Swaminathan takes his time to build a world that helps us understand and become curious about Maharaja, his daughter, and why 'Lakshmi' is so important to him. Later in the first half, we are introduced to the main antagonist, played by Bollywood ace director Anurag Kashyap. The dubbing for the character appears to be problematic, wit.