The blind pianist who saw too much
In short: A musician fakes blindness to sharpen his musical focus, only to stumble upon a murder. In this Telugu-language crime thriller, a simple charade spirals into a web of organ harvesting, counterfeit money, and a deadly pursuit of the truth.
Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, Maestro is a 2021 black comedy crime thriller and a remake of the 2018 Hindi film Andhadhun. The story follows Arun, a pianist in Goa who maintains a facade of blindness to better concentrate on his music and ignore his surroundings. His life takes a dark turn when he witnesses the aftermath of a murder involving Mohan, a retired actor and businessman. The film's production journey was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the crew to pause filming during April and May of 2021. Principal photography took place across locations including Hyderabad, Goa, and Dubai.
The plot thickens as Arun becomes entangled with Simran, Mohan's much younger widow. After witnessing Simran and her lover, Bobby, disposing of Mohan's body, Arun finds himself trapped in a cycle of violence. The narrative explores themes of deception and survival, as Arun later faces actual blindness caused by poisoned coffee and finds himself caught in a scheme involving the sale of human organs. The tension escalates when Simran uses voice recordings to manipulate Arun into believing Mohan is still alive. This deception includes a claim that the actor is traveling to Bangalore with 1 crore rupees.
While some critics, such as those from The Hindu, praised the performances of Nithiin and Nabha Natesh, others were more critical of the film's departure from its source material. Some reviewers noted that the film lacked the moral ambiguity and wit of the original, with some describing it as a 'tamed version' or an 'unwitty remake.' Despite these critiques, the film's technical elements, including Mahati Swara Sagar's score, were noted for their effectiveness. The film's soundtrack, composed by Mahati Swara Sagar, featured several singles released between July and September 2021. Although it bypassed theaters due to lockdowns, it was released directly to streaming via Disney+ Hotstar.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Maestro (2021 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-maestro-2021-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
