“Daaku Maharaj” (2025), directed by K. S. Ravindra, is an action-drama starring Nandamuri Balakrishna as Maharaj, Bobby Deol as Balwant Singh Thakur, Pragya Jaiswal as Kaveri, Shraddha Srinath as Nandini, Sachin Khedekar as Krishnamurthy, and more. “Daaku Maharaj” follows the story of Seetharam, who uses his violent past to save a family from the gaze of a corrupt politician and drug kingpin.
Daaku Maharaj (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Who is Nanaji? Why Does He Arrive at Madnapalle?
At the start of the film, Vaishnavi accidentally stumbles upon a group of men illegally poaching and selling animal parts on a tea estate. The estate is owned by Krishnamurthy, a wealthy retired businessman. When he investigates, he discovers that the land is leased to a local MLA, Thrimurthulu, and his brother Manohar, who use it for illegal activities—including money laundering and wildlife trafficking.
To put an end to this, Krishnamurthy files a court case to cancel the lease based on these crimes. In response, Thrimurthulu and his men confront him at his school, demanding he withdraw the case. When Krishnamurthy refuses, Thrimurthulu resorts to threats and violence to intimidate him. But Krishnamurthy is a man who has always stood for justice and his community, and thus, he refuses to withdraw the case.
Govind Gujjar, a loyal servant of the Krishnamurthy family, calls for help and reaches out to Nanaji (Maharaj), who arrives in Madanapalle to protect Krishnamurthy, Vaishnavi, and their family. Nanaji starts working as the family’s driver and quickly earns Vaishnavi’s trust. He also tracks down Manohar, beats him, and forces him to surrender to the police.
To make Krishnamurthy retract the case, Thrimurthulu sends his men to the school, intending to harm innocent students, but Nanaji single-handedly takes them down, rendering them battered and defeated. Nanaji also confronts Thrimurthulu directly and threatens him that if he dares to intimidate Krishnamurthy or his family again, he’ll bury him alive.
Who is Stephan?
Stephan is a ruthless cop who believes it’s better to shoot a criminal than go through the hassle of courts and trials. Everyone knows he bends the law to his will, using his power to take down criminals in staged encounters, but since he’s one of the best officers on the force, no one dares to challenge him. After arresting hardcore criminals with long rap sheets, Stephan always follows the same pattern. He shoots them and claims they tried to grab a gun, forcing him to make the tough call.
Following his latest case, Stephan is assigned to capture Daaku Maharaj, also known as Seetharam alias Nanaji. After a thorough investigation, Stephan tracks Nanaji to Krishnamurthy’s house and arrests him, but his victory is short-lived. Nanaji’s men retaliate by taking Stephan’s superior’s family hostage, forcing the cops to release him.
What is Really Going on in the Tea Estate?
Illegal poaching and the ivory trade were just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, Thrimurthulu and his brother were using the tea estate to grow coca plants and produce cocaine. When the CRPF sealed the estate, they unknowingly locked down the coca fields as well. With only two days to harvest and deliver the cocaine to his boss in Shimla, Thrimurthulu grows desperate and attempts to kidnap Vaishnavi to force Krishnamurthy into doing his bidding, but the plan fails miserably.
Maharaj confronts Thrimurthulu, revealing that he knows about the drug operation. He demands that Thrimurthulu call his bosses for a sit-down. However, before that can happen, Maharaj is arrested. Shortly after, Bablu Singh Thakur arrives at Krishnamurthy’s house and accepts that he has been using Krishnamurthy’s estate to grow high-quality coca plants for cocaine production. He then makes an offer that if Krishnamurthy joins them, he could easily earn ₹25 crore a year.
That same night, Bablu’s men ambush the tea estate, killing every CRPF officer stationed there. They break in and begin harvesting the coca leaves. At the same time, Thakur sends another group of men to execute Krishnamurthy and his entire family, but Maharaj and his men arrive, saving them from certain death. Afterwards, Maharaj heads straight to the tea estate and sets fire to every last coca plant, reducing the entire operation to ashes. As for Bablu and his men, they don’t make it out alive.
How Did Seetharam Become Daaku Maharaj?
While Nanaji is being treated by doctors, Krishnamurthy asks why he is willing to risk his life for them. Govind tells Krishnamurthy that he hails from a village called Bajrangpur, where water was a luxury. The only way to get it was by using a special coin. The entire village was controlled by the ruthless Thakur brothers—Prithviraj, Yashwant, and Balwant—who forced the villagers to work in their marble quarry. Every day, the people prayed for salvation, but nothing changed. Then, they heard about a civil engineer named Seetharam, an honest man who believed that water should be accessible to everyone. Desperate for help, the villagers begged him to solve their water crisis.
When the Thakurs learned that Seetharam planned to build a dam to solve the water crisis, they tried to bribe him, but he refused. Then, he takes the issue to the collector, only to realize that the Thakurs have everyone in their pocket. To send a message and crush any resistance, the Thakurs commit a massacre and slaughter hundreds—including women, children, and the old. To make the Thakurs pay for what they have done, Seetharam takes up the moniker Maharaj—a legendary dacoit who once protected the village. On that very day, he abandons his job, picks up arms, and avenges the fallen by killing one of the Thakur brothers.
Who is Nandini, & How is She Connected to Maharaj?
Balwant announces a huge bounty on Sitaram’s head, to capture him, but no matter how hard he tries, he fails. Meanwhile, Sitaram stays true to his word and makes sure that not even a single stone leaves the quarry. After dealing with Yashwant, Maharaj tracks down Prithviraj and makes him pay for his crimes as well. Acting on a tip from Nandini, he then kidnaps the irrigation minister and forces him to confess on video that the marble quarry is just a front for a drug smuggling run by him and Balwant. Maharaj plans to take the tape to Delhi, but Balwant lures him into a trap at his house. Balwant manages to escape, but Nandini is killed in the crossfire.
It turns out that Nandini is Krishnamurthy’s daughter, and little Vaishnavi is her child. With her dying breath, Nandini begs Maharaj to take Vaishnavi to her grandfather. Because of Nandini’s testimony and the videotape, the dam is finally built. With his mission complete, Maharaj willingly surrenders to the police. The only reason he later escapes is because Govind informs him that Vaishnavi—Nandini’s daughter—is in danger.
Daaku Maharaj (2025) Movie Ending Explained:
What Happens to Balwant Singh Thakur?
As the film reaches its climax, Balwant arrives with his army. Maharaj’s men put up a fight, but most of them are killed. Balwant then tries to kidnap Vaishnavi, saying that he will raise her as a Thakur, like the royals they are. He mocks Maharaj, boasting that after his death, he will reclaim control of the dam and once again force the villagers to work in his marble quarry. Enraged, Maharaj kills Balwant, sending the last of the Thakur brothers to his doom.
