Paresh Rawal's popular Gujarati suspense play, ‘Maharathi’ which has been running for almost 21 years now and has already had 700 successful stage performances, opened on the big screen with a stellar cast in 2008.
The film Maharathi 2008 was based on this Gujarati language play of the same name which itself was based on James Hadley Chase novel “There’s always a price tag”.
I happened to watch the movie because of good star cast of Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani and Om Puri. All excellent actors.
Needless to say, the expectations were sky-high, especially since Bollywood doesn't really boast of too many taut thrillers of late. Maharathi doesn't disappoint, although the bindings of theatre do keep it more of an indoor affair where people play out their crimes and misdemeanors and keep the viewer guessing with their mercurial shifts in mood and passion.
I can't believe it turned out to be such an amazing suspense thriller. Even though the film was a disaster at the box office.
There are enough turns and twists in the plot to keep you in nail-biting mode, although the film does take time to build up towards a thrilling second half. Almost all the actors play out their roles to perfection.
Initially, the first 10-15 minutes appeared to be an art film, but it suddenly shifts gears. The movie suddenly goes into the murder mode. After the first murder happens, the movie drifts towards a gripping story and plot.
I really enjoyed this unique story and thriller.
If Naseeruddin renders a copybook act of a success-gone-sour story, then Paresh is matchless as the man with a million moods, most of them being fake. Boman Irani, minus his exaggerations, is eminently watchable, but it is Neha Dhupia who seems to be growing after association with alternate cinema.
If you want a taste of a desi version of the spellbinding English play turned film, then watch Maharathi. The story may be different; but the edge of danger is almost similar.