‘Maharaj’ is a fire away for Siddharth P Malhotra

Mumbai: filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra’s new film, Maharaj is based on the Maharaj libel case of 1862. An adaptation of Saurabh Shah’s 2013 book of the same name, the Netflix film shows how social reformer and journalist Karsandas Mulji had exposed the sexually exploitative practices of self-proclaimed godman Jadunath Mahjaraj. The ensuing legal battle sparked a sensational trial at the Bombay High Court. Mulji was accused of being defamatory by Jadunath and the Pushtimarg sect. Eventually, however, the British judgement went in Mulji’s favour, who was lauded for advocating freedom of expression.

Life too imitates art. Like his protagonist, Malhotra also faced his own share of struggles to let his film see the light of the day. The wait was long, and not easy. It took three arduous years full of controversies and trepidation after members of the Vaishnavite Pustimargi sect alleged that the film misrepresented its beliefs leading the Gujarat High Court to temporarily halt its release. “We had been cautious while scripting it, and nowhere was our intention to offend anyone. We have been through enough heartbreak and heartburn, but it is overwhelming to see the response that has come our way,” says Malhotra, who finally heaved a sigh of relief when the HC gave him the go-ahead, noting that Maharaj was neither objectionable nor did it misreport facts.