Tamil film Maharaja to premier in China; first after normalisation of ties

PTI Chennai / Beijing: Tamil suspense film Maharaja will be released in China on Friday becoming the first Indian cinema to be screened for Chinese audiences after the normalisation of ties between the two countries following last month’s agreement to resolve the standoff in Eastern Ladakh. The suspense film Maharaja has already begun prescreenings and its release here coincides with two major competitors - Hollywood’s Gladiator II and local film Her Story.

State-run Global Times reported on Tuesday that the film currently holds a high rating of 8.7/10 on Chinese movie review site Douban and is regarded as one of the highest-rated Indian films in recent years. Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, the film stars actors Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas and Natty Natraj. It hit the Indian screens on June 14 and was a huge hit. Maharaja which is titled ‘Yin Guo Bao Ying’ in Chinese will be first Indian film to be screened in China after both the countries firmed up an agreement on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, in a major breakthrough to end the over four-year border standoff.