Vijay Sethupathi marks a significant milestone in his career as his 50th film, Maharaja, hits the theatres today (June 14). Helmed by Nithilan Swaminatah, the Tamil-language action drama premiered on more than 1,900 screens worldwide. Alongside Sethupathi, the movie also stars Mamta Mohandas and Anurag Kashyap in key roles. The movie revolves around the story of Maharaja (Vijay Sethupathi), who is a barber by profession. His most important duties in life include doing his job religiously every day and looking after his daughter, Jothi. Early reviews for Maharaja are in, and critics are praising Sethupathis's performance in this strongly executed film. Let's check what the critics have to say about the movie. Maharaja Movie Review: Early Reactions Call Vijay Sethupathi’s 50th Movie ‘Terrific’, Hail Nithilan Swaminathan’s Action Drama As ‘Best Tamil Film of the Year’.

India Today: "Tamil cinema relies on dramatic films as much as it does on commercial action extravaganza. But, seldom do a few films utilise drama to deal with sensitive topics. Director Nithilan Swaminathan's 'Maharaja' is one such revenge drama that talks about an important topic which has been relevant for many decades. 'Maharaja' exploits the non-linear story pattern to the maximum. Was it effective? Partly, yes! But, majorly underwhelming, especially in the second half where the story comes together."

123Telugu.com: "On the whole, Maharaja is a slow-burn story of emotions and vengeance. Vijay Sethupathi’s exceptional performance and the screenplay keep viewers fascinated. The emotional ending with a jaw-dropping twist and the impactful interval are the main highlights. However, the slow narration and underdeveloped characters may not appeal to everyone. If you enjoy slow-burn films with decent performances, Maharaja is worth watching this weekend." Maharaja Movie: Review, Cast, Budget, Plot, Trailer, Release Date – All You Need To Know About Vijay Sethupathi and Anurag Kashyap's Film.

Watch Maharaja Trailer

ABP Live: "Maharaja tackles a serious subject matter with a mix of humour and drama. The film is structured into two distinct halves - the first half is laden with comedy, setting a misleading light-hearted tone, while the second half dives into a more intense and emotional narrative."

The Indian Express: "Nithilan Swaminathan had an interesting core idea, and he has written a story around it, bending the narrative and timelines to fit the idea, which makes things look engineered. The purpose of this deliberate and convoluted writing is to surprise the audience and make them go, ‘I didn’t see that coming’. That makes Maharaja more of a visual puzzle than an engaging film."

Lensmen Reviews: "Maharaja is an action thriller that has rooted characters and emotions. Even though it has the design elements of a commercial film that backs the hero, Nithilan is not interested in making a hero who defies gravity. With an unpretentious Vijay Sethupathi breathing life into a script that genuinely takes an effort to repackage an existing formula, Maharaja deserves to be appreciated."

So, after reading the above reviews, are you going to watch Vijay Sethupathi's Maharaja in the theatres? Let us know in the comment section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2024 06:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).