Maharshi (transl. Great sage) is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language action-drama film[11] directed by Vamshi Paidipally and jointly produced by Dil Raju, C. Ashwini Dutt, Prasad V. Potluri, Param V. Potluri, and Kavin Anne through their production companies Sri Venkateswara Creations, Vyjayanthi Movies, and PVP Cinema. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde, and Allari Naresh while Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Jayasudha, Meenakshi Dixit, and Ananya play supporting roles. The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.

The plot follows Rishi (Babu), who becomes the CEO of a US-based software company. When his attention is drawn towards the plight of downtrodden farmers by his friend Ravi (Naresh), he sets out to help them.

The film was released theatrically on 9 May 2019 and opened to mixed reviews. Although Babu's performance was praised, the film was criticized for predictable, slow and lengthy narration.[12] The film ranks among the highest grossing Telugu films. Maharshi received two National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Choreography. The film also won two awards at Zee Cine Awards Telugu.

Plot
K. Rishi Kumar, an Indian man, becomes the CEO of a US-based software company, Origin. Hailing from a middle class family in Hyderabad, he dreams to make it big in the software industry and has a tense relationship with his father, K. Satyanarayana, a clerk in a private company who is constantly pressurized by moneylenders. Soon, Rishi moves to Vizag for his post-graduation in IIET(Mock of IIT to get rid of legal issues), Vizag and he befriends Pooja and Ravi Shankar. Ajay, one of the class toppers, becomes jealous after seeing Rishi surpass him in all the exams. MP Bhanu Prasad who is Ajay's father, a politician and a minister, offers Rishi money in exchange for stepping down as the topper, but Rishi refuses and also thrashes his henchmen.

Later, Rishi declines Pooja's marriage proposal, feeling that it would hinder his career. They break up, and Rishi's friendship with Ravi, who tried to mend their relation, also gets spoiled. Ajay is selected by a top company, Origin, with the highest package in the college. However, he comes to know that Rishi developed an AI-based operation system and used it to get a much better opportunity with another company. Ajay conspires to stop Rishi from attending the campus interview by accusing him of stealing the examination papers. However, Rishi is found innocent and allowed to write his exams. Within a short time, he became the CEO of Origin. However, the death of his father leaves him shattered, following which he takes his mother to the USA.

The film returns to the present, where Rishi is devastated to learn from his professor that Ravi took the blame for stealing the examination papers in order to save him. Ravi's father committed suicide, and his marriage with his girlfriend, Pallavi, is called off. Rishi reunites with Ravi in the latter's hometown, where he learns that Ravi has been protesting alone against a company that plans to take away the village farmland for laying oil pipelines. Rishi asks Vivek Mittal, the millionaire businessman behind the project, to exclude the village but the latter declines. Hence, Rishi sets up his own office in the village to attract media attention and to set a stage for Ravi to express his concerns. Pooja, now working in a gaming company, is sent by her boss, along with an assistant, to meet Rishi regarding sponsorship for a new game. Rishi talks to Pallavi's father and helps fix the broken alliance. Ravi is then made the village leader to express their concerns of the people to the government.

Vivek offers more money as compensation to the villagers and also gives money to one of the neighboring villagers to stop further growth of the issue. His henchmen also try to eliminate Ravi, but Rishi saves him. Ravi is hospitalized, and Vivek uses the opportunity to tarnish Rishi's good intentions and gets him to leave the village. Rishi's mother talks him out of giving up and Rishi returns to the village to finish what he started. After a farmer inspires him to practice farming, Rishi helps the farmers grow crops by leasing them and paying more money than Vivek. Farmers realize the value of their land, and Pooja reconciles with Rishi. In a press meet, Rishi makes a speech emphasizing the importance of agriculture and the losses faced due to the farmers' suicides. Rishi's efforts are appreciated by the Chief Minister, and Ajay, now a banking official, exposes Vivek, thus ending the project. Rishi resigns as the CEO of Origin and decides to stay in his homeland promoting agriculture.