Maharaja Movie Ending Explained
Follow us on Twitter | Instagram
Plot Overview
In the Tamil action-thriller “Maharaja,” Vijay Sethupathi stars as a barber named Maharaja, who embarks on a mission of vengeance after three burglars attack him at home and steal his precious “Lakshmi.”
The Story Begins
The film starts with Maharaja reporting a burglary to the police, explaining that his cherished “Lakshmi” has been stolen. He recounts how three men broke into his home, attacked him, and took “Lakshmi.” He explains that the burglary happened while his daughter Jyothi was away at a sports camp. Upon investigation, the police discover that “Lakshmi” is an old metal dustbin and are convinced that Maharaja is a madman wasting their time. However, Maharaja keeps hounding them to pursue the case, turning up at the station every day.
Why Is Lakshmi Important?
A flashback reveals the significance of Lakshmi. Maharaja’s wife died in a tragic accident while he was buying toys from a shop across the street. A truck crashed into the house where she was sitting with their daughter. The daughter was saved by an iron dustbin that fell on her, shielding her from harm. Maharaja and his daughter, Jyothi, named the dustbin Lakshmi and treated it as a deity and family member because it saved the girl’s life.
The Investigation
Initially, the police dismiss Maharaja’s case, thinking he’s crazy for wanting them to find a dustbin. However, when Maharaja offers a significant bribe to the cops, the police suspect there might be something valuable hidden in the dustbin. They decide to investigate the case and also plan to create a fake dustbin & get a fake suspect to trick Maharaja into giving them the money.
The Burglars
The movie unfolds non-linearly, misleading viewers and the police into thinking only the dustbin is missing. A parallel subplot introduces Selvam (Anurag Kashyap) and Sabari, who run an electrical shop by day and commit burglaries and murders by night. It is implied that they, along with a third unidentified accomplice, targeted Maharaja’s house.
The Night of the Burglary
A flashback in the second half reveals that Jyothi was at home during the burglary, not Maharaja. The three burglars—Selvam, Dhana, and Nallasivam—intended to kill Maharaja but attacked Jyothi instead. After assaulting and brutally beating her, they left her for dead. However, Jyothi survived and asked her father to bring the perpetrators to her so she could ask why they attacked her. Jyothi provides a clue that one of the men had a lump on his back.
Maharaja’s Hunt
Maharaja finds a toll plaza ticket at home, leading him to Dhana. After torturing Dhana, Maharaja learns that one of the accomplices is at the local police station. Maharaja uses the story of the missing Lakshmi to get close to the police and figure out who among them is the culprit.
The Burglars’ Motive
Flashbacks reveal Selvam’s backstory. He bought an expensive gold chain for his daughter’s birthday and went to Maharaja’s barbershop for a shave. While Maharaja stepped out to buy batteries for the razor, Selvam talks on the phone with his accomplice about their burglaries being in the newspapers. Selvam suspects Maharaja of overhearing this, however, he heads home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Maharaja finds that Selvam forgot his gold chain and heads out to give it back to him and coincidentally, the police arrive at the same time to arrest him. Selvam believes Maharaja tipped off the police and vowed revenge.
The Climax
The police, seeking to profit from Maharaja, create a fake Lakshmi and involve their informant, Nallasivam, to pose as the thief. They had discovered Jyothi’s assault during their investigation and knew the real culprits. They plan to let Maharaja take his revenge on Nallasivam. When Nallasivam accidentally reveals real details about the crime, Maharaja identifies him as one of the assailants and kills him with the police’s consent.
The Final Twist
The police help Maharaja find the third culprit, Selvam, working at a construction site. During their confrontation, Selvam reveals his motive, blaming Maharaja for his imprisonment and the loss of his family. When Jyothi insults Selvam and throws a bag of gold at him, Selvam recognizes the necklace he had bought for his daughter. He realizes Jyothi is his own daughter, Ammu, who was saved by Lakshmi. A fuller flashback reveals that Maharaja had gone with his family to return the gold chain to Selvam’s wife, and it was when the truck hits the house, killing Selvam’s wife and Maharaja’s wife and daughter. Overwhelmed by guilt for orchestrating his own daughter’s assault, Selvam jumps to his death.
Thus, the tragic story concludes with Maharaja’s quest for Lakshmi revealing deeper layers of misunderstanding and misplaced revenge.
Read Next: Eric Review – Retro Thriller That Embraces Its Monsters
Also Read: Mother-Daughter Murder Night Book Review (Audio version below)
