Maharaja (2024 film)

Maharaja (transl. The Great King) is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Nithilan Saminathan. Produced by The Route, Think Studios and Passion Studios, the film stars Vijay Sethupathi, alongside Anurag Kashyap and Sachana Namidass (in her major film debut), with Mamta Mohandas, Natty Subramaniam, Abhirami, Divyabharathi, Singampuli, Aruldoss, Munishkanth, Manikandan and Bharathiraja in key roles. The story follows a barber in Chennai who goes to the police station to retrieve his stolen dustbin, only for the police to find his intentions to be something else.

The film was officially announced in February 2023 under the tentative title VJS50, as it is Sethupathi's 50th film as the lead actor. Principal photography commenced the same month, predominantly taking place in Chennai throughout a single schedule. The official title was announced in July, coinciding with the filming wrapping and Think Studios joining as co-producers. The music was composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, with cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman and editing by Philomin Raj.

Maharaja had its world premiere on 12 June 2024 in India, and had a proper theatrical release two days later. The film received critical acclaim, who praised Sethupathi and Kashyap's performances, Philomin's editing and Swaminathan's script and direction. It set several records, including the highest-grossing South Indian film in China, highest-grossing Indian film in China since 2018 and emerged the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of 2024.