You must be aware that Maharaj was scheduled to start streaming yesterday but situations forced the movie to be halted. So, the movie is based on a novel by Saurabh Shah which is again based on the “Maharaj Libel Case” of 1862.
The case established various norms of press freedom but it was not easy. The case involved exposing a corrupt Vaishnav guru who was supposedly taking sexual favors from his female followers.
Needless to say, there is a religious angle to the film and given the current scenario, it had to become an issue. So it did.
The right-wing organizations were successful in putting a stay order on the film and the film is on stay till the 18th of June. We don’t know what will happen afterwards.
But, makers have started their struggle to get the film released. Multiple sources claim that Netflix India and Yash Raj Films will challenge the stay order in higher courts. Since the film is based on a book and a real case, it shouldn’t be too hard for them to win the case.
Meanwhile, the author Saurabh Shah has come out in favor of the film. He called himself a devout Vaishnav himself and a devout Vaishnav can’t really support a film that is against the Vaishnav faith.
Let’s see if the makers are successful in the film’s release anytime soon.