Most
storytellers
seek
inspiration
from
Hollywood
films.
But
very
few
film-makers
look
at
what
our
auteur
have
to
offer.
Maharathi
is
the
cinematic
adaptation
of
Uttam
Gada's
Gujarati
play,
which
was
a
huge
success
two
decades
ago.
Another
reason
that
enhances
the
curiosity
is
the
fact
that
it
brings
four
of
the
finest
talents
of
the
Hindi
film
industry
together.
But
not
all
plays
are
fit
for
cinematic
adaptations.
Maharathi
may
be
a
hugely
successful
play,
but
it's
not
as
engaging
as
a
cinematic
experience.
Let's
face
it,
cinema
and
theatre
are
two
different
mediums
altogether!
Also,
Maharathi
is
not
one
of
those
Bollywood
thrillers
where
everything,
right
up
to
the
minutest
detail,
is
spoon-fed
to
the
viewer.
Besides,
it
falters,
loses
balance
and
gets
cliched
and
contrived
when
the
director
and
writer
decide
on
winding
up.
And
that's
not
good
news
for
any
thriller.
Subhash
[Paresh
Rawal]
has
spent
the
last
ten
years
unsuccessfully
trying
to
get
acting
parts
in
films.
One
night,
he
saves
a
man's
life.
He
accompanies
the
injured
man
back
home.
Subhash
is
awe-struck
at
the
affluence
of
Mr.
Adenwalla
[Naseeruddin
Shah].
Subhash
realizes
this
may
lead
to
a
generous
tip.
Soon
enough,
Subhash
is
hired
by
the
grateful
Adenwalla
as
his
driver.
The
wife,
Mallika
[Neha
Dhupia],
resents
Subhash
for
his
proximity
to
her
husband.
Subhash
is
now
firmly
ensconced
in
Adenwallas'
house
and
discovers
his
wife's
evil
designs.
On
the
other
hand,
Adenwalla,
driven
to
the
point
of
insanity
by
his
money-hungry
wife,
decides
to
take
the
ultimate
revenge.
He
commits
suicide!
Subhash
recognizes
this
as
an
opportunity
to
rid
himself
of
a
lifetime
of
middle
class
mediocrity
and
poverty.
He
collaborates
with
Mallika
to
acquire
all
the
money
and
property.
Working
hand
in
glove,
they
get
a
caretaker
[Tara
Sharma],
with
the
help
of
their
family
lawyer
Mr.
Merchant
[Boman
Irani],
to
be
a
witness
to
an
ailing
Mr.
Adenwalla's
presence
in
the
house.
But
the
best
plans
can
go
awry
and
this
brings
ACP
Gokhale
[Om
Puri]
and
Inspector
Borkar
[Vivek
Shauq]
into
the
picture.
The
problem
with
Maharathi
is
its
inconsistent
script.
To
start
with,
there
should've
been
a
valid
reason
for
Naseer
to
commit
suicide.
In
the
first
place,
if
he
had
to
teach
Neha
a
lesson,
why
should
he
shoot
himself?
Why
not
shoot
Neha
instead?
Much
later,
even
Neha's
death
looks
unbelievable.
Another
pertinent
question
that
crosses
your
mind
is,
why
does
Naseer
bequeath
his
riches
to
Paresh?
In
fact,
he
barely
knows
Paresh.
The
Boman
track
in
the
end
is
quite
confusing
as
well.
On
the
brighter
side,
Maharathi
has
several
well-executed
sequences
and
that's
why
the
deficiencies
in
the
script
bother
you.
It
could've
been
an
engaging
experience,
which
it
isn't.
Director
Shivam
Nair
has
shot
the
film
well,
but
how
one
wishes
he
would've
opted
for
a
far
more
convincing
screenplay.
There's
no
place
for
songs
in
the
film
and
the
sole
track
towards
the
end
--
the
promotional
number
--
looks
out
of
place.
Cinematography
is
striking.
With
a
crème
de
la
crème
cast
on
hand,
it's
natural
to
expect
sparkling
performances
from
the
cast.
Naseeruddin
Shah
is
convincing.
Paresh
Rawal
scores
yet
again.
Boman
Irani
is
in
form.
Om
Puri
deserved
a
meatier
role.
Neha
Dhupia
is
okay.
Tara
Sharma
is
fair.
Vivek
Shauq
is
hardly
there.
On
the
whole,
Maharathi
has
some
curiosity-value
thanks
to
its
interesting
cast
and
an
equally
inviting
promotion.
But
the
film
lacks
the
power
of
an
arresting
script.
That,
in
turn,
will
make
the
journey
tough
for
the
film.