Maharaja is a so-so film with some really nice songs but with a crappy-beyond-imagination plot.
The story is about Govinda, a royal prince whose parents get killed by a sleazy goofball and he is made to run away and grow up in the jungles. He grows up to be a simple, naive and good-hearted young man who can only understand the animals but not the humans. He does not have a feel of the real world outside the jungle and is easily influenced by everyone. The arrival of a TV reporter played by Manisha Koirala into the jungles makes it only worse but he falls in love with her. She also reciprocates but then Govinda realises how he lost his parents and how he was dethroned and sets out to take revenge against the villain.
The plot is pretty old-fashioned and looks outdated, especially in the late 90's. But the songs of this film are a plus point. The title track is a gem and so is 'Jab Tum Aa Jaate Ho Samne'. It really shows the magic of the Nadeem-Shravan duo.
Govinda turns in a serious performance after almost a decade of his acting career. Sadly, he couldn't do justice to it. Still, he's likable in parts. Manisha Koirala looks heavy as ever and totally sucks at comedy. It might be a relief for her fans who are fed up of watching her perform in serious roles. But she totally lacked the magic touch of her '1942 A Love Story' and 'Khamoshi' days. Shakti Kapoor is okay and Salim Ghouse makes a menacing villain.
Overall, just watch Maharaja for the songs or even better rent a CD of this film to listen to its songs.
