N. Maharajan

{{Infobox person

|image =

|caption =

|name = N. Maharajan

|birth_date =

|birth_place = Tamil Nadu, India

|birth_name =

| other names =

|occupation = Film director

|spouse =

|yearsactive = 2000–2004

|website =

}}

N. Maharajan is an Indian film director who directed Tamil and Hindi films. He made his debut with Vallarasu and directed other films Anjaneya and Arasatchi. He also wrote the story for Zor (1998), Champion (2000), and Kranti (2002).

Career

Maharajan made his directorial debut with Vallarasu starring Vijayakanth. A scene shot was of Vijayakant and Devayani at a jewellery shop in T.Nagar in Chennai. The song was picturised near Pollachi and with the lead pair there were about 100 dancers. And choreographing the dance was dance master Haridas. A lavish set was erected at the A.V.M. Studios where a stunt scene was picturised between Vijayakant and Richard. Some stunt scenes were picturised between Vijayakant and Richard. Some stunt artistes who played as Richard's henchmen, also participated in the shot. Apart from Chennai, shooting locations were at New Delhi and Kulu Manali.{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday.itgo.com/vallaras.htm |title=Vallarasu |publisher=Cinematoday.itgo.com |date= |accessdate=2012-08-25}} The film receive positive reviews and became a box office success.{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov37.asp |title=Vallarasu |website=Chennai Online |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010531090645/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov37.asp |archive-date=31 May 2001 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2000/04/21/stories/09210223.htm |title=The Hindu : Film Review: Vallarasu |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820032248/http://www.hindu.com/2000/04/21/stories/09210223.htm |archive-date=20 August 2010 |url-status=dead}} The success of film led Maharajan to direct Narasimha which he later opted out.{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/666Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319072600/http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/666Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U.htm |date=19 March 2016|archive-date=19 March 2016|title=Tamil Cinema 2000|work=cinematoday2itgo}}

Maharajan later remade Vallarasu in Hindi with Sunny Deol. His next directorial was Anjaneya. The leading female role was eventually handed to Meera Jasmine even though Reemma Sen was also approached earlier for the film.{{cite web|url=http://ajithkumar.free.fr/news/news_13.htm |title=Meera Jasmine confirmed! 'Anchaneya's confusions end |publisher=www.ajithkumar.fr.fm |date=2003-06-28 |accessdate=2013-07-30}} The film featured Ajith Kumar in his first role as a police officer, before further appearances in Kireedam, Aegan, Mankatha and Yennai Arindhaal.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401490400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103120446/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/10/24/stories/2003102401490400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-01-03 |title=Variety fare for Deepavali |date=2003-10-24 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=2013-07-30}} The film was shot within 47 days, with Ajith reportedly working extra time to complete scenes. Producers downplayed any publicity for the film, releasing the audio with little fanfare and not releasing a teaser trailer. The film received negative reviews with the critic from The Hindu claiming that "the lack of consistency in the treatment affects the film no end", criticizing Maharajan's direction. There were rumours that Ajith didn't allow him to direct the second half properly. Too much intervention from Ajith led to a sub-standard product. And Maharajan could never recover back from the disaster.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/07/stories/2003110701210200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040703101737/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/11/07/stories/2003110701210200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-07-03 |title=Anjaneya |date=2003-11-07 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=2013-07-30}}{{cite web|author=HostOnNet.com |url=http://movies.bizhat.com/review_anjaneya.php |title=BizHat.com - Anjaneya Review. Ajith, Meera Jasmine, Raghuvaran, Anu Hassan, Manivannan |publisher=Movies.bizhat.com |date= |accessdate=2013-07-30}}

Meanwhile, Maharajan announced his next project Arasatchi with Arjun playing the lead role. Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta made her acting debut in Tamil with this film.{{cite web |url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071701190401.htm |title=The Hindu : A long wait |website=hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023053747/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071701190401.htm |archive-date=23 October 2010 |url-status=dead}} The film boasts of 14 villains played by Raghuvaran, Karan, Anandraj, Nasser, Nambiar, Ponnambalam, Delhi Ganesh, Mansur Alikhan, Devan, Rajan P Dev and Manivannan among others. Uma, Abitha, Vindhya and P Vasu play crucial roles in the film.{{citation needed|date= November 2022}}

The filming was held at Le Royal Meridian Hotel, Chennai and the songs were picturised at locations in London, New Zealand and Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/location/arasatchi.asp |title=Archived copy |website=Chennai Online |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030920115501/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/arasatchi.asp |archive-date=20 September 2003 |url-status=dead}}

The movie was completed in 2003 but got delayed due to financial problems and finally released in 2004,{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/9897.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025005244/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/9897.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 October 2004|title = Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil}} in between production delays Maharajan finished Anjaneya with Ajith.

Before release, poster featuring tagline "When Justice Fails" created controversy which caused a lawyer to file a case citing that the film would portray lawyers in bad light. After one week, case was finally won.{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10575.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024143347/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10575.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2004|title = Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10522.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041102185714/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/10522.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 November 2004|title = Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil}}

Filmography

=As director and writer=

class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;"
style="background:#B0C4DE;" ! rowspan="2" scope="col"\| Year ! rowspan="2" scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" colspan="2"\| Credited as ! rowspan="2" scope="col" \| Language ! rowspan="2" scope="col" \| Notes
Director ! Writer
1998 \| Zor \| {{no}} \|{{Partial\|Story, screenplay}} \|Hindi \|
rowspan="3"\|2000 \|Vallarasu \|{{yes}}	{{yes}} \|rowspan="2"\|Tamil \|
Snegithiye \| {{no}} \|{{Partial\|Dialogues}} \|
Champion \|{{no}} \|{{Partial\|Screenplay}} \|Hindi \|
2001 \|Indian \|{{yes}}	{{yes}} \|rowspan="2"\|Hindi \|
2002 \| Kranti \| {{no}} \|{{Partial\|Story}} \|
2003 \|Anjaneya \|{{yes}}	{{yes}} \|rowspan="2"\|Tamil \|
2004	Arasatchi	{{yes}}	{{yes}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;"

style="background:#B0C4DE;"

! rowspan="2" scope="col"| Year

! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" colspan="2"| Credited as

! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Language

! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Notes

Director

! Writer

1998

| Zor

| {{no}}