The 2024 Tamil-language movie ‘Maharaja’, which was released last week, quickly gained popularity. Directed and written by Nithilan Saminathan and produced by Jagadish Palanisamy and Sudhan Sundaram, the film is available for streaming on Netflix. It is a psychological revenge thriller.
‘Maharaja’ stars Vijay Sethupathi as a barber whose life takes a dark turn when his home is burglarised. Cryptically informing the police that his Lakshmi has been taken, he leaves them guessing whether Lakshmi is a person or an object. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Lakshmi is, in fact, a dustbin.
The screenplay of ‘Maharaja’ is particularly noteworthy. It is distinguished by the complicated unravelling of the plot and the seamless connection between the past and the present. This fresh narrative experience has captivated Kollywood fans. The film explores several sensitive and complex themes, such as a single father’s struggle to raise his daughter, a low-income man’s fight to be taken seriously by society, the harrowing reality of child abuse and burglary, and the duality of human nature. It illustrates how even an evil man can have a soft spot for their family and children.
A villain’s soft spot
The main villain of the story, played by Anurag Kashyap, is a complex character. The movie provides glimpses into the family life of the main villain, where he is portrayed as a loving father to a little girl. While he commits heinous acts, including murder and allowing rape, he returns home to be a devoted husband and father. His wife remains unaware of the true nature of his actions and how he earns money.
This dual life of the villain leaves viewers with several thought-provoking questions: How do criminals separate their violent actions from their personal lives? How is their sense of right and wrong warped? What factors contribute to their behaviour – is it trauma, living conditions, or something else? Finally, how can a person capable of loving another human being also be capable of causing immense harm to others?
This portrayal is reflective of real-world cases, such as that of Ted Bundy. Despite being one of the most notorious serial killers in history, Bundy’s girlfriend did not suspect him of his crimes until he was apprehended. This stark contrast between his loving persona at home and his violent actions highlights the complex and often disturbing nature of such individuals.
Punishment
The final plot twist of the movie is undeniably powerful. The central villain, consumed by a 15-year-old grudge against a barber he believes framed him, embarks on a vengeful mission. His plan is derailed when his gang brutally assaults the barber’s young daughter during a home invasion. Driven by a father’s anguish, the barber transforms into a vigilante, methodically seeking vengeance against the perpetrators.
Love, at its most intense, can sometimes blur the lines between right and wrong, leading a person to commit a crime. This can be explained through the concept of cognitive dissonance, where an individual experiences a conflict between their actions and their beliefs or emotions.
In the case of the barber, his deep love for his daughter creates an overwhelming need for justice, which he feels cannot be achieved through conventional means. This intense emotional drive can lead to rationalising violent actions as justified, despite conflicting with his moral compass. Love, when mixed with grief and anger, can transform into a powerful motivator for violence, raising important questions about the complexities of human emotions and their ability to both heal and harm.
The movie seems to justify the vigilante behaviour of the barber, a common theme in literature and film where criminal actions are excused when driven by a quest for justice through unconventional means. However, the portrayal of love turning a person aggressive raises an important ethical question. While the film examines how deep emotional bonds can lead to violent behaviour, it also prompts viewers to question whether such actions can truly be justified. Is it acceptable to excuse aggressive behaviour just because it comes from love and a quest for retribution, or does this merely blur the moral boundaries between justice and vengeance? It’s a thought-provoking issue that invites self-reflection.
The twist
In a climactic confrontation, the villain gloats about the suffering he will inflict on the barber, recounting his own losses: “Fifteen years ago you sent me to prison. I lost my child because of you. I lost my wife. My whole life is ruined. Did you forget all that? Maybe you have forgotten, but I haven’t.”
After an intense physical struggle, he continued: “I am used to this (physical) pain. It will eventually fade away. (Referring to the attack on the barber’s daughter) but the pain that I have inflicted on you will last forever. You will cry every time you think about your daughter’s plight. And that’s what I want.”
His triumph is short-lived as the barber’s identity is revealed. The girl he believed he had destroyed is, in fact, his own daughter, adopted by the barber after a personal tragedy. The villain’s world crashes as he realises the horrifying extent of his actions. The pain he inflicted upon another is now his own, compounded by the guilt of harming his biological child. This tragic twist strongly condemns violence and highlights how revenge can create a never-ending cycle of pain.
The entire story reflects the Dhammapada verse:
Sabbe tasanti daṇḍassa, sabbe bhāyanti maccuno
Attānaṁ upamaṁ katvā, na haneyya na ghātaye
(All tremble at the rod. All fear death. Comparing others with oneself, one should neither kill nor cause to kill)
This verse emphasises that everyone fears suffering and death, and it encourages empathy by suggesting that one should not inflict harm on others if one would not want to experience it themselves.
(The writer is a mental health professional and has, over the past 11 years, contributed to several Sri Lankan media publications in both English and Sinhala languages, focusing on topics related to psychology and counselling)