After Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas returns with The Raja Saab. Directed by Maruthi, this horror-fantasy entertainer has been made on a huge budget. Prabhas is seen in the comedy genre after a long time, raising expectations. So, how did Maruthi and Prabhas collaborate for
Gangamma (Zarina Wahab), who suffers from Alzheimer’s, is cared for by her grandson Raju (Prabhas). Although her memory fades, she firmly holds onto thoughts of her husband, Pekamedala Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), a former exorcist believed to be in hiding. Determined to fulfill his grandmother’s wish, Raju travels to Hyderabad, only to uncover a shocking truth: Kanakaraju is dead and has returned as a dangerous spirit. As Raju digs deeper, he exposes his grandfather’s dark past, driven by greed and ambition. The clash between Raju and his grandfather’s haunting legacy forms the crux of the story.
Performances: Prabhas is fun to watch after a long time. His comedy timing reminds one slightly of Akshay Kumar, and fans will enjoy it thoroughly. Some costume changes during songs, scenes, and fights feel awkward, but Prabhas manages to cover them with timing. The hospital scene and the mind game sequence with Sanjay Dutt are emotionally effective.
Though there are three heroines, Nidhhi Agerwal stands out as the main lead. Malavika Mohanan and Riddhi Kumar appear more like character roles. While glamour is present, it does not impress much. Nidhhi and Malavika look good, while Riddhi has a limited scope.
Sanjay Dutt lacks clarity in his character arc but impresses with screen presence. Zarina Wahab, as grandmother Gangamma, has a meaningful role but is not fully utilised. Boman Irani’s role is brief yet important and helps move the narrative forward. Samuthirakani and VTV Ganesh make sudden entries and exits. Satya, Saptagiri, Prabhas Sreenu, and others try to generate humour but largely fail.
Technical Aspects: Thaman’s music is decent, though clarity is missing in several places, making songs and lyrics hard to hear. “Patience” stands out as a highlight. Cinematography is good, but the overly bright visuals reduce emotional impact. Colouring and CG needed more care. The Brahma Rakshasa episode involving Sanjay Dutt is effective, but repetitive cat-and-jump scare shots fail to impress. The climax funeral scene shot on a green matte is very obvious, which is disappointing for a ₹600 crore film. The production design and art department tried their best to add grandeur, and some CG work is handled well.
Analysis: Director Maruthi deserves credit for attempting to revive the lighter, fun-filled side of Prabhas that audiences have long been eager to see. After a series of intense and larger-than-life roles, this shift in tone is refreshing on paper and shows Maruthi’s clear intent to present the star in a more relaxed and entertaining space.
However, when it comes to execution, the film struggles to fully capitalise on this idea. As a horror-fantasy, The Raja Saab requires strong psychological depth and sustained tension, which remain largely missing. While the mind game sequences initially spark interest, they are stretched far beyond their impact, causing the narrative to lose momentum.
The final 30 minutes of the lengthy 189-minute runtime feel inconsistent and uncertain, lacking the punch expected from a film of this scale. Prabhas’s much-hyped old man getup, which generated curiosity in the teaser, is abruptly removed, leaving fans disappointed. Similarly, the subplot involving three heroines being drawn to the protagonist feels forced and fails to add value to the story.
Each genre carries a set of expectations, and while The Raja Saab offers several promising ideas on paper, weak execution undermines them. The comedy, in particular, rarely lands as intended. Apart from Prabhas’s occasional comic timing and a visually heavy climax, the film struggles to make a lasting impression.
Verdict: Overall, The Raja Saab sets out with an interesting premise and the promise of presenting Prabhas in a lighter, entertaining avatar, something fans have been waiting for. While the intent is clear and a few moments’ work, the film falters in execution. The horror-fantasy elements lack psychological depth, the humour rarely clicks, and several subplots feel forced or underdeveloped. Lengthy runtime and inconsistent pacing further dilute the impact.
Bottom Line: Only for Prabhas fans
The RajaSaab Rating: 2.5/5
Home
