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Daaku Maharaaj (transl. King of the Bandits) is a 2025 Indian Telugu language-language Period film action drama film directed and co-written by Bobby Kolli and produced by Sithara Entertainments, Fortune Four Cinemas and Srikara Studios. The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna alongside Bobby Deol (in his Telugu debut), Pragya Jaiswal, Shraddha Srinath, Sachin Khedekar, Makarand Deshpande, Urvashi Rautela, Aadukalam Naren, Nithin Mehta, Ravi Kishan, VTV Ganesh, Rishi, and Chandini Chowdary. The film follows the journey of Sitaram, a dedicated civil engineer who transforms into the Dacoity named "Daaku Maharaaj" to protect a village in distress from an evil prince Balwanth Singh Thakur. Later, he disguises himself as a car driver, Nanaji, to safeguard a young girl, Vaishnavi and her family.
The film was officially announced in June 2023 under the tentative title NBK 109, as it is Balakrishna's 109th film as a leading actor and the official title was announced in November 2024. Principal photography commenced in November 2023. The music was composed by Thaman S, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Vijay Kartik Kannan and Ruben and Niranjan Devaramane, respectively.
Daaku Maharaaj was released worldwide on 12 January 2025, coinciding with Sankranti. The film has grossed over worldwide and is the fourth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025.
Inspector Stephen Raj, a feared encounter specialist, traces Maharaaj and takes him away benevolently without exposing him to the family. Meanwhile, Trimurthulu and Manohar are revealed to have been cultivating a high-quality cocaine in the tea estate for Bablu Singh Thakur and his uncle, Prince Balwant Singh Thakur. Bablu visits Krishnamurthy and puts him in the picture regarding the cocaine cultivation and asks him to withdraw his complaint so that he can export the yield and offers him a partnership; Krishnamurthy bluntly rejects it, prompting Bablu to launch an attack on his residence that night and simultaneously dispatch his men into the estate to harvest the crop. He also cuts Trimurthulu's throat after he questions Bablu's methods in speaking with Krishnamurthy about the lease. Though Sub-Inspector Janaki and Govind try to ward off the assassins from the family, the situation starts to get out of hand. Maharaaj's men hold the SP and his family at gunpoint, forcing him to free Maharaaj. Maharaaj comes to the family's rescue and resists Bablu's men in the estate and beheads Bablu, but is severely wounded and admitted into a hospital. Govind tells Krishnamurthy and his family about Maharaaj's past.
1992: Govind and the other dacoits are peasants of a water-scarce settlement called Bajrangpur in the Chambal division. Balwant Singh Thakur and his elder brothers, uses their royal power and exploit the villagers' misery and force them to work in their marble under harsh conditions in exchange for weekly water supply to their villages. The villagers approach IES officers Sitaram and his wife, Kaveri, for a solution; they figure out that a dam could be built to irrigate their fields, but the Thakur brothers' illegitimate mines pose a hindrance for the project. Sitaram and Kaveri approach Nandini, the DC, to propose the construction of the dam and shut off the mines. However, Nandini is revealed to be Balwant's wife and Balwant learns about Sitaram's proposition. He calls Sitaram to the Palace and offers a bribe to Sitaram, but when the latter declines, he massacres the entire village, including the children, to teach him a lesson.
An enraged Sitaram goes on a killing spree and pounces on the Thakurs' residence only to find Balwant and his eldest brother absent. Sitaram ruthlessly murders the second brother and informs Nandini about her husband's atrocities. Sitaram transforms into the villagers' revered leader, abandoning his job as an engineer, and is proclaimed as Daaku Maharaaj. With aid from across the country in the form of weapons, Maharaaj and his henchmen halt operations in the quarry. Balwant's elder brother abducts Kaveri and a few villagers to find Maharaaj's location, but Maharaaj shows up and kills him.
While Bablu and his men search for the pregnant Kaveri on a festival night at a temple, Nandini rescues her from getting caught and speaks to her about Balwant and Minister Udham Singh's secret narcotics trade in the name of marble mining and Nandini treats Sitaram as her elder brother. Nandini reveals that she was the one who got Sitaram and Kaveri transferred to Chambal, trusting that they would be of use to its suffering inhabitants. With the information given by Nandini, Maharaaj abducts Udham Singh and forces him to confess about their illicit trade. While Maharaaj is about to approach the authorities with the evidence, Balwant learns about Nandini's deceit and intimidates Maharaaj to rescue Nandini. Before Maharaaj could arrive, Balwant tortures Nandini and injures their daughter, Vaishnavi. Maharaaj arrives and fights Balwant, but the latter and Bablu flee as a mob of villagers attack their palace. With the evidence and Nandini's report, Maharaaj exposes Balwant's trade to the government, leading to the closing of mines and the proposition of a dam in the region gets its approval. However, Nandini dies from her wounds and asks Maharaaj to entrust Vaishnavi to her estranged parents.
1996: Vaishnavi is revealed to be Nandini's daughter and a devastated Krishnamurthy regrets alienating Nandini after she married Balwant against his wishes. Balwant arrives at the hospital looking for Maharaaj, killing everyone that comes in his way. As the family tries to safeguard an unconscious Maharaaj, while Stephen, a recuperating Trimurthulu, and Maharaaj's henchmen try to prevent Balwant and his men from harming him and Vaishnavi. However, Maharaaj regains consciousness, where he rescues Vaishnavi and kills Balwant. Years later, Maharaaj is released from prison and reunites with Kaveri and his son. He inaugurates the dam that has been constructed in Nandini's name.
Working title NBK109, as it was Balakrishna's 109th film as the lead actor, it was produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments, Srikara Studios and Fortune Four Cinemas, and was announced on Balakrishna's birthday (10 June 2023). A traditional pooja ceremony was held on the same day for the film's launch. The film's title Daaku Maharaj was announced with a teaser trailer on 15 November 2024.
Vishwak Sen was initially offered an important role in the film but turned down as he wanted a substantial role. Similarly, Dulquer Salmaan also refuted the reports of being a part of the cast. Though Gautham Vasudev Menon was reported to play an important role, he did not sign the film. Pragya Jaiswal, Shraddha Srinath and Chandini Chowdary were cast as the other female leads. Ravi Kishan, Shine Tom Chacko, Sachin Khedekar, VTV Ganesh, Makarand Deshpande, Sandeep Raj, Harsha Vardhan and Rao Ramesh, were cast in supporting roles.
The second schedule began in late-April 2024, with Deol joining the film's production. The production of the second schedule was delayed due to the 2024 Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana before its resumption in June 2024. In July 2024, Rautela suffered a major injury while filming for an action sequence, fracturing her bones. The team continued a major production schedule in Jaipur, with Balakrishna and Deol had wrapped his portions in August 2024. Filming wrapped in December 2024.
As the film OST received a big applause, after the release of Album in the month of February 2025, team released the Background Chanting Track called, "Sarkaru Raa", on occasion of Nandamuri Balakrishna's birthday.
Avinash Ramachandran of The Indian Express gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Basically, Daaku Maharaaj had all things in place for a gripping social drama that looks a million bucks, but it crumbles under the weight of the familiar because sound and sight can only do so much to a film that never takes flight." Janani K of India Today gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Bobby Kolli tried his best to cover up with the proceedings in the film, but it failed after a while. Daaku Maharaaj is a decent template entertainer with classic Balayya elements to keep you hooked."
Srivathsan Nadadhur of The Hindu wrote "Bobby Kolli’s attempt to dish out a ‘different-looking’ Balakrishna film is a mixed bag. Apart from Balakrishna and Shraddha Srinath's performances, the action choreography, cinematography and the music salvages it to an extent."
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