Maharshi (2019 film)
Maharshi (2019 film)
| Maharshi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Vamshi Paidipally[1] |
| Produced by |
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| Written by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | Devi Sri Prasad |
| Cinematography | K. U. Mohanan |
| Edited by | Praveen K. L. |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Great India films (USA) |
Release date |
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Running time | 178 minutes[3] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | ₹1–1.3 billion[a] |
| Box office |
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Maharshi (transl. Great sage) is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language action-drama film[11] directed by Vamshi Paidipally and jointly produced by Dil Raju, C. Ashwini Dutt, Prasad V. Potluri, Param V. Potluri, and Kavin Anne through their production companies Sri Venkateswara Creations, Vyjayanthi Movies, and PVP Cinema. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde, and Allari Naresh while Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Jayasudha, Meenakshi Dixit, and Ananya play supporting roles. The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.
The plot follows Rishi (Babu), who becomes the CEO of a US based software company. When his attention is drawn towards the plight of downtrodden farmers by his friend Ravi (Naresh), he sets out to help them.
Maharshi was released theatrically on 9 May 2019 and opened to mixed reviews. Although Babu's performance was praised, film was criticized for predictable, slow and lengthy narration received.[12]
Plot[edit source]
K. Rishi Kumar, an Indian man, becomes the CEO of a US based software company, Origin. Hailing from a middle class family in Hyderabad, he dreams to make it big in the software industry and has a tense relationship with his father, K. Satyanarayana, a clerk in a private company who is constantly pressurized by moneylenders. Soon, Rishi moves to Vizag for his post-graduation in engineering, and he befriends Pooja and Ravi Shankar. Ajay, one of the class toppers, becomes jealous after seeing Rishi surpass him in all the exams. Ajay's father, a politician and minister, offers Rishi money in exchange for stepping down as the topper, but Rishi refuses and also thrashes his henchmen.
Later, Rishi declined Pooja's marriage proposal, feeling that it would hinder her career but told her that his career ambitions would be weighed down by new responsibilities. They broke up, and Rishi's friendship with Ravi, who tried to mend their relations, also got spoiled due to a misunderstanding. Ajay got selected by a top company, Origin, with the highest package in the college. However, he came to know that Rishi developed an AI-based operation system and used it to get a much better opportunity with another company. Ajay conspired to stop Rishi from attending the campus interview by accusing him of stealing the examination papers. However, Rishi was found innocent and allowed to write his exams. Within a short time period, he became the CEO of Origin. However, the death of his father left him shattered, following which he took his mother to the states.
The film goes back to the present, where Rishi is devastated to learn from his professor that Ravi took the blame for stealing the examination papers in order to save him. His father committed suicide, and his marriage with his lover, Pallavi, was stalled. Rishi reunites with Ravi in the latter's hometown, where he learns that Ravi has been protesting alone against a company that plans to take away the village farmland for laying oil pipelines. Rishi asks Vivek Mittal, the millionaire businessman behind the project, to exclude the village but the latter declines. Hence, Rishi sets up his own office in the village to attract media attention and to set a stage for Ravi to express his concerns. Pooja, now working in a gaming company, is sent by her boss, along with an assistant, to meet Rishi regarding sponsership for a new game. Rishi talks to Pallavi's father and helps fix the broken alliance. Ravi is then made the village leader to express their concerns of the people to the government.
Vivek offers more money as a compensation to the villagers and also gives money to one of the neighboring villagers to stop further growth of the issue. His henchmen also try to eliminate Ravi, but Rishi saves him. Ravi is hospitalized, and Vivek uses the opportunity to tarnish Rishi's good intentions and gets him to leave the village. Rishi's mother talks him out of giving up and Rishi returns to the village to finish what he started. After a farmer inspires him to practice farming, Rishi helps the farmers grow crops by leasing them and paying more money than Vivek. Farmers realize the value of their land, and Pooja reconciles with Rishi. In a press meet, Rishi makes a speech emphasizing the importance of agriculture and the losses faced due to the farmers' suicides. Rishi's efforts are appreciated by the Chief Minister, and Ajay, now a banking official, exposes Vivek, thus ending the project. Rishi resigns as the CEO of Origin and decides to stay in his homeland promoting agriculture.
Cast[edit source]
- Mahesh Babu as K. Rishi Kumar, CEO of Origin
- Pooja Hegde as Pooja, Rishi's love interest
- Allari Naresh as Ravi Shankar, Rishi's friend
- Jagapathi Babu as Vivek Mittal, a millionaire businessman
- Prakash Raj as K. Satyanarayana, Rishi's father
- Jayasudha as Rishi's mother
- Meenakshi Dixit as Nidhi
- Ananya as Pallavi, Ravi's love interest
- Kamal Kamaraju as Ajay, Rishi's college mate
- Sai Kumar as Pallavi's father
- Tanikella Bharani as Ravi's father
- Mukesh Rishi as Ajay's father
- Nassar as Chief Minister
- Rao Ramesh as Chandrasekhar, Rishi's professor
- Kaikala Satyanarayana as Pooja's paternal grandfather
- Kota Srinivasa Rao as Pooja's maternal grandfather
- Annapoorna as Pooja's grandmother
- Aneesha Dama as Pooja's sister
- Vennela Kishore as Kanna
- Posani Krishna Murali as Murali Krishna, Vivek's supporter
- Vidyullekha Raman as Pooja's friend
- Brahmaji as Pooja's manager
- Anish Kuruvilla as College Dean
- Srinivasa Reddy as Ramakrishna, Rishi's personal assistant
- Rajiv Kanakala as Farmer
- Prudhviraj as Journalist
- Jhansi as TV Host
- Ravi Prakash as Police Officer
- Sameer as Interview Panel Member
- Randhir Gattla as Rahul
- Anand as District Collector of Ramavaram
- Shanoor Sana
- Divi Vadthya as Geetha
- Sravan as Shravan
- Ishika Varma
- Patricia Pinto
- Ashrita Vemuganti
- Getup Srinu as a villager in Ramavaram (cameo)
- Mahesh Achanta as a villager in Ramavaram (cameo)
Soundtrack[edit source]
| Maharshi | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 1 May 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 31:38 | |||
| Label | Aditya Music | |||
| Producer | Devi Sri Prasad | |||
| Devi Sri Prasad chronology | ||||
| ||||
The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and released on Aditya Music company. Lyrics were written by Sri Mani.
Reception[edit source]
Critical reception[edit source]
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote, "At the heart of Maharshi is a story that could have been leveraged to make a compelling social drama that also traces the transformative journey of an ambitious man. But there’s a huge gap between what it could have been and what it is".[13] The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Watch it not just for Mahesh Babu and Allari Naresh’s performances but also for the story, if you don’t mind all the bells and whistles it comes with. It might not be entertaining all through, thanks to the draggy bits, but its heart is in the right place".[14] Hindustan Times gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Maharshi is a problematic film with big ideas but it tugs at heartstrings. Take out the farming sub-plot, Maharshi would’ve been a tiresome watch in which Rishi just won’t shut up with his sermons on success".[15]
CNN-News18 gave 4 out of 5 stars stating "Maharshi exudes a sense of comfort and happiness in the midst of the wreckage and targeting".[16] India Today gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating "Maharshi has a meaty story in between several sub-plots. If only it was crisp and to the point. If only. Mahesh Babu's Maharshi is not about a business tycoon coming back to his motherland. He has a bigger purpose here".[17] Firstpost gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Maharshi is a well-intentioned drama and has some beautifully written sequences; however, it holds back on a lot of things it wants to say for so long that it makes you feel restless at times".[18]
Box office[edit source]
Maharshi on the opening day collected ₹590 million gross worldwide and in Telugu-speaking states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) movie collected a share of ₹246 million.[19] In the first extended weekend (Thursday release) movie grossed over ₹1 billion (100 crore) worldwide.[20][21]
In 11 days movie collected a share of ₹727.9 million in Telugu-speaking states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).[22]
By the end of theatrical run, the film grossed between ₹1.45–2 billion worldwide.[7][5][10]
Awards and nominations[edit source]
| Date of ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 January 2020 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Favorite Actor | Mahesh Babu | Nominated | [23] |
| Best Actor – Male | Nominated | [24] | |||
| Best Actor in Supporting Role | Allari Naresh | Won | [25] | ||
| Favourite Actress | Pooja Hegde | Won |
Notes[edit source]
- ^ International Business Times,[4] Sakshi Post[5] and India Today[6] estimate the budget as ₹1 billion while Sakshi Telugu[7] and Deccan Chronicle[8] report the budget to be ₹1.3 billion
- ^ Sakshi Telugu estimates the film worldwide gross to be ₹1.45 billion.[7] Deccan Herald estimates the film worldwide gross to be over ₹1.75 billion.[9] Sakshi Post and Hindustan Times estimate worldwide gross to be ₹2 billion.[5][10]
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