Maharshi (2019 film)

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.

Maharshi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVamshi Paidipally[1]
Produced by
Written by
Starring
Music byDevi Sri Prasad
CinematographyK. U. Mohanan
Edited byPraveen K. L.
Production
company
Distributed byGreat India films (USA)
Release date
  • 9 May 2019 (2019-05-09)[2]
Running time
178 minutes[3]
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹1–1.3 billion[lower-alpha 1]
Box office

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, the film was criticized for predictable, slow and lengthy narration but has still managed to become the tenth highest grossing Telugu film.

Plot

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 IIET(Mock of IIT to get rid of legal issues), Vizag 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 declines Pooja's marriage proposal, feeling that it would hinder his career. They break up, and Rishi's friendship with Ravi, who tried to mend their relation, also gets spoiled. Ajay is selected by a top company, Origin, with the highest package in the college. However, he cames to know that Rishi developed an AI-based operation system and used it to get a much better opportunity with another company. Ajay conspires to stop Rishi from attending the campus interview by accusing him of stealing the examination papers. However, Rishi is found innocent and allowed to write his exams. Within a short time, he became the CEO of Origin. However, the death of his father leaves him shattered, following which he takes his mother to the USA.

The film returns 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. Ravi's father committed suicide, and his marriage with his girlfriend, Pallavi, is called off. 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

Soundtrack
Maharshi
Soundtrack album by
Devi Sri Prasad
Released1 May 2019
Recorded2019
GenreSoundtrack
Length31:38
LabelAditya Music
ProducerDevi Sri Prasad
Devi Sri Prasad chronology
Chitralahari
(2019)		 Maharshi
(2019)		 Sarileru Neekevvaru
(2019)

The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and released on Aditya Music company. Lyrics were written by Sri Mani.

Track list
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Padara Padara"Shankar Mahadevan4:51
2."Choti Choti Baatein"Devi Sri Prasad4:25
3."Nuvve Samastham"Yazin Nizar4:28
4."Everest Anchuna"Vedala Hemachandra, Vishnupriya Ravi3:16
5."Phir Shuru"Benny Dayal4:12
6."Paala Pitta"Rahul Sipligunj, M. M. Manasi3:20
7."Idhe Kadha Nee Katha"Vijay Prakash2:49
8."Nuvvani Idhi Needani"Karthik4:21
Total length:31:38

Reception

Critical reception

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".[12] 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".[13] 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".[14]

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".[15] 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".[16] 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".[17]

Box office

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.[18]

In the first extended weekend (Thursday release) movie grossed over ₹1 billion (100 crore) worldwide.[19][20] In 11 days, the movie collected ₹727.9 million in Telugu-speaking states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).[21]

By the end of theatrical run, the film grossed between ₹1.45–2 billion worldwide.[7][5][10]

Awards and nominations
Date of ceremony Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
11 January 2020 Zee Cine Awards Telugu Favorite Actor Mahesh Babu Nominated [22]
Best Actor – Male Nominated [23]
Best Actor in Supporting Role Allari Naresh Won [24]
Favourite Actress Pooja Hegde Won

Notes
  1. 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
  2. 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]

References
  1. "Mahesh Babu makes a dashing entry as Rishi". The Indian Express. 9 August 2018.
  2. "Mahesh Babu's Maharshi will not be in theatres on April 25. Here is the new release date". Indiatoday.in.
  3. "MAHARSHI (2019)". British Board of Film Classification. 7 May 2019.
  4. "Maharshi box office collection: Mahesh Babu's film set to complete 50 days in 200 theatres". International Business Times. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020. ...over Rs 180 crore gross at the worldwide box office... made with a budget of Rs 100 crore.
  5. "What Is Mahesh Share In Maharshi Profits". Sakshi Post. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020. ...budget of approximately Rs 100 Cr... Rs 115 Cr share plus and it has grossed Rs 200 Cr at the worldwide box office.
  6. "Maharshi Movie Review: Mahesh Babu gets his own underwhelming Kaththi". India Today. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020. ...produced on a lavish budget of nearly Rs 100 crore.
  7. "2019లో భారీ వసూళ్లు రాబట్టిన సినిమాలివే." [Highest grossing films of 2019]. Sakshi (in Telugu). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  8. "Mahesh Babu's Maharshi to release in deficit?". Deccan Chronicle. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. "Highest-grossing Telugu movies at WW box office". Deccan Herald. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  10. "Maharshi, which grossed over Rs 200 crore at the box-office". Hindustan Times. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  11. "Maharshi teaser out: Mahesh Babu sizzles in Vamsi Paidipally's action-drama". India Today.
  12. "'Maharshi' review: The transformative journey". The Hindu. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  13. "Maharshi Review". The Times of India. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  14. "Maharshi movie review: A predictable star vehicle for Mahesh Babu with a workable emotional core". Hindustan Times. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  15. "Maharshi Movie Review: Mahesh Babu Shines As Arrogant Business Tycoon". CNN-News18. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  16. "Maharshi Movie Review: Mahesh Babu gets his own underwhelming Kaththi". India Today. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  17. "Maharshi movie review: Mahesh Babu's conviction holds this partly underwritten film together". Firstpost. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  18. "Mahesh Babu's Maharshi opens big at the ticket window, collects Rs 59 crore worldwide". Hindustan Times. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  19. "Mahesh Babu's Maharshi Has a Dream Run at the Box Office, Rakes in Rs 100 Crore in 4 Days". CNN-News18. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  20. "Maharshi box office collection: Mahesh Babu film grosses Rs 100 crore worldwide". Indian Express. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  21. "'Maharshi' box office collections day 11: Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde and Allari Naresh's film rakes in Rs 72.79 Cr in AP & TS". The Times of India. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  22. @ZeeTVTelugu (7 January 2020). "Favorite Actor in leading role(Male)" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 January 2020 – via Twitter.
  23. @ZeeTVTelugu (7 January 2020). "Best Actor in leading role(Male)" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 January 2020 – via Twitter.
  24. "Zee Cine awards Telugu 2020: Samantha Akkineni, Chiranjeevi and Nani win top laurels". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.