Producer Maruthamuthu said his story has been stolen.
Maharaja has won praise from all quarters and its streaming rights have reportedly been sold to Netflix.
Vijay Sethupathi’s 50th film, Maharaja, has recently been released and is performing well. The film is directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, known for films like Kurangu Bommai. Maharaja addresses the issue of sexual violence against girls. It features a star-studded cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Mamata Mohandas, Abhirami, Divya Bharti, Natti, Singampuli, Muneeskanth and Boys Manikandan. The movie’s success is attributed to its compelling script, realistic acting, unexpected twists, and well-executed action sequences presented in a linear manner. Maharaja has won praise from all quarters and its streaming rights have reportedly been sold to Netflix at a significant price.
Amidst all the praise that the film is receiving, Singam Puli has entered into a new controversy as director Nithulan Swaminathan has been accused of plagiarism in regards to the film’s story. Producer Maruthamuthu has recently revealed that the director has stolen his story for the film Maharaja. At a press conference, Maruthamuthu said, “The story came to me back in 2020 and I had hired Nithilan to make a short film on it, which he did. Subsequently, starting in 2022, I collaborated with the team at Sabari Pictures to develop a full-fledged feature film titled Athiyasam Uttu. I secured call sheets from actors such as KS Ravikumar, Charlie, and Appukutty for the film. The shoot was cancelled due to rain before it could begin”
He said that the shoot kept getting delayed and recently some friends told him that the story of the recently released Maharaja was similar to his. “I watched the film and was shocked. It is completely my story. Nithilan has cheated me by stealing my story. I have filed a complaint with the producer’s union.” Maruthamuthu also added that small producers like himself are not allowed to grow in the industry and demanded justice for the same. He said that the short film that was made with his story is proof of what he is saying being true.
