LMS Films Pvt. Ltd.’s Hoy Maharaja (Marathi; UA) is the story of a conman who has to fight against odds to save his lady love and things dear to him.
Ramesh a.k.a. Ramya (Prathamesh Parab) comes from his village to Bombay to take up a job. After he loses his job, he joins his maternal uncle (Abhijit Chavan), with whom he stays, in his work of installation of CCTV cameras. He gives his uncle and Rashid (Sandeep Pathak), whom the uncle owes money, a business idea which involves making duplicates of expensive show pieces, stealing the original ones and replacing them with the fake ones. In this way, Ramya, his uncle and Rashid make crores of rupees. But their crime gets them into trouble when they steal five show pieces from don Anna’s (Vaibhav Mangle) house. How Ramya gets out of the problems which follow forms the crux of the drama. There is also a romantic track of Ramya and his girlfriend, Aisha (Ankita Lande).
Sanchit Bedre’s story is not quite entertaining or engaging. Since there are too many characters, the viewers get tired as new characters keep getting introduced. Bedre’s screenplay is average. The romantic track of Ramya and Aisha is not heartwarming. Even many of the light scenes fail to evoke laughter. Some comic punches are, of course, good but they are just not enough. Sanchit Bedre’s dialogues, with additional dialogues by Amber Hadap, are okay.
Prathamesh Parab is alright as Ramesh/Ramya. Abhijit Chavan is okay as Ramya’s uncle, Anmol Gote. Sandeep Pathak lends fair support in the role of Rashid but tends to go overboard at places. Ankita Lande is reasonably good in a role (Aisha) that gives her hardly any scope. She looks beautiful. Vaibhav Mangle is quite nice as don Anna. Sandeep Juwatkar is passable as police inspector Uday. Shraddha Joshi is average as police inspector Shahane. Samir Choughule acts ably as Jigneshbhai but he has been wasted. Sanika Kashikar passes muster in a tiny role as Sania. Neha Paranjpe fits the bill in a brief role as Hema. Sandeep Redkar lends routine support as Shashikant Jadhav. Amir Tadwalkar is ordinary as Abbasbhai. Others hardly deserve separate mention.
Shailesh L.S. Shetty’s direction is routine. Chinar-Mahesh’s music is fairly nice. Ka mann vede and Kahi tari de ishara songs are fairly nice. Guru Thakur’s lyrics are alright. Phulwa Khamkar’s choreography is functional. Background music (by Amey Nare and Sajan Patel) is nothing to shout about. Vasudeo Rane’s camerawork is okay. Moses Fernandes’ action and stunt scenes do not afford much thrill. Santosh Phutane’s art direction is reasonable. Nilesh Navnath Gavand’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Hoy Maharaja is too ordinary to make any impact at the box-office.
Released on 31-5-’24 at Citylight (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Cinepolis India. Publicity & opening: dull.