The Raja Saab Movie Review: Prabhas Shines Briefly In An Otherwise Messy Fantasy Saga

Ever since Baahubali redefined scale and spectacle in Indian cinema, Prabhas has largely remained synonymous with ambition. Even when his films misfired, they never lacked intent or scale. After back-to-back crowd-pleasers like Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD, expectations were naturally high from The Raja Saab. The Raja Saab also stars Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Zarina Wahab, P. Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, Satya, Prabhas Sreenu, and Saptagiri. On paper, the idea sounded quirky. A romantic horror comedy evolving into a fantasy drama. Director Maruthi Dasari, known for light-hearted entertainers, finally got a canvas as large as his lead star.

Unfortunately, The Raja Saab collapses under its own weight. What could have been an eccentric genre-blender turns into a confused, bloated film that struggles to decide what it wants to be. Despite a massive budget and a star-studded cast, The Raja Saab rarely connects, testing patience more than it rewards attention.

The Raja Saab Story

The Raja Saab begins inside a supposedly haunted house. Comedian Satya enters the mansion carrying an urn and gets mysteriously trapped. This opening is meant to establish mystery and humour. Sadly, it achieves neither. The scene feels flat and oddly placed, failing to create intrigue.

The narrative then shifts to Raja, played by Prabhas. He lives a quiet life with his grandmother, Gangamma (Zarina Wahab), and his cousin Anitha (Riddhi Kumar). Gangamma suffers from Alzheimer’s and constantly believes her husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt) is still alive. Her emotional plea becomes the film’s trigger point. She urges Raja to find her husband, unaware of the past she has buried inside her fading memory.

Raja’s search takes him to Hyderabad, near Charminar, where the film hurriedly introduces a romantic angle. He meets a nun (Niddhi Agerwal) and immediately falls in love. This track feels rushed, poorly written, and emotionally hollow. Before the audience can process the attraction, a song appears, adding little beyond visual padding.

As the story unfolds, a bribery angle involving Raja’s uncle adds unnecessary complication. Bhairavi (Malavika Mohanan) enters the narrative next, delivering money and conveniently guiding Raja toward the Narasapur forest. From here, the plot finally moves into horror territory as the characters enter the haunted mansion.

The second half revolves around unanswered questions. Why did Kanakaraju abandon his wife? What dark history lies hidden inside the house? And how is Raja connected to it all? While the core idea involving betrayal, hypnotism, and revenge has potential, The Raja Saab never develops it with the seriousness it deserves.

The Raja Saab Movie Review

Director Maruthi seems unsure of his own vision throughout the film. The screenplay jumps between romance, comedy, horror, and fantasy without allowing any of them to settle. Instead of blending genres, the film stacks them awkwardly.

The first half is particularly exhausting. Scenes stretch endlessly, filled with glamour shots and filler sequences that serve no narrative purpose. The emotional stakes are never established properly, which makes it difficult to care about Raja’s journey. By the time the interval offers a mildly interesting twist, the damage is already done.

The second half of The Raja Saab, mostly set inside the haunted house, is disappointingly predictable. The horror elements lack atmosphere. The comedy feels forced. And the fantasy angle never truly takes off. Songs interrupt the narrative flow at the worst possible moments, making the already sluggish pacing worse.

Music by Thaman S is surprisingly underwhelming. Barring a couple of background score moments, the soundtrack fails to elevate scenes. Editing is one of the film’s biggest drawbacks. Several sequences drag relentlessly, especially the pre-climax and climax. A tighter cut could have easily reduced the runtime by thirty minutes.

Cinematography by Karthik Palani delivers dated visuals. Many frames, especially in songs, look artificial and poorly composed. The excessive use of green screens becomes painfully obvious. Instead of enhancing scale, the VFX diminishes realism. For a film mounted on such a grand budget, the visual effects are shockingly inconsistent and often substandard.

The Raja Saab Performances

Prabhas has a few moments where his natural charm shines through, particularly in select comedy scenes and one emotional sequence in the latter half. However, his overall performance feels uninspired. The inconsistent look and heavy dependence on green mat shots make him appear detached from the environment.

Sanjay Dutt gets a substantial role and delivers a competent performance. P. Samuthirakani makes his presence felt, though his aged look feels artificial. Veteran actress Zarina Wahab does well as Gangamma, especially in the climax, but outdated writing often pushes her performance into melodrama.

Boman Irani is severely underutilised. His role lacks depth, making his presence feel wasted. Among the female leads, Malavika Mohanan gets the most screen time, but her character is poorly written. Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar are reduced to decorative roles.

The comedy trio of Satya, Prabhas Sreenu, and Saptagiri provides the film’s few genuinely entertaining moments. Ironically, in a film headlined by a superstar, it is these limited comic portions that offer some relief.

Final Verdict

The Raja Saab is a classic case of wasted potential. The film suffers from weak writing, confused genre treatment, and poor execution. Despite having the budget, star power, and an interesting premise, it fails to engage on an emotional or entertainment level.

Except for a mildly effective climax segment, there is little that truly works. What could have been a quirky, memorable fantasy ends up being a long, tiring watch. For Prabhas fans, this film is particularly disappointing. For general audiences, it is a test of patience rather than a source of enjoyment.

Rating: (2/5)