Movie Name : The Raja Saab
Release Date : Jan 09, 2026
MovieManthra.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Prabhas, Sanjay dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Zarina Wahab
Director : Maruthi
Producers : TG Vishwa Prasad, Krithi Prasad
Music Director : Thaman S
Cinematographer : Karthik Palani
Editor : Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
When it was announced that Prabhas would be starring in a film directed by Maruthi, the film industry was taken aback. Everyone wondered what kind of film would emerge from this combination.
The news that they were making a horror-comedy film came as another shock.
How would a horror-comedy suit a hero like Prabhas, a pan-India star with a larger-than-life image? Whether it would even be a good match was another question.
The film crew tried to cover it up by saying, “This isn’t a horror film, it’s a horror fantasy.” Prabhas’s fans were somewhat satisfied when the producer released a statement calling it the ‘Biggest Horror Fantasy Film in the Globe’. Moreover, with horror-comedy films recently performing exceptionally well at the box office and films like ‘Stree’ raking in crores, they believed that ‘Raja Saab’ would also work its magic. Most importantly, Prabhas’s speech at the pre-release function and Maruti’s statement, “If you don’t like the movie, come to my house,” instilled even more confidence. The trailer 2.0 also appealed to the fans. Slowly, the doubts faded away, and confidence grew. So, did ‘Raja Saab’ live up to that confidence? Did Maruti provide a script that does justice to a star like Prabhas?
Raju (Prabhas) has no parents; his grandmother, Gangadevi (Zarina Wahab), is his only family. She suffers from Alzheimer’s and is also worried about her husband, Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), who left her a long time ago. Gangadevi keeps waiting for his return. Raju sets off for Hyderabad, determined to bring his grandfather back. There, he meets Blessy (Nidhi Agarwal) and Bhairavi (Malavika). During this time, Raju learns some surprising things about his grandfather. He discovers that his grandfather is living in a house in the Narasapur forest, and that everyone who enters that house experiences strange things. Who exactly is Kanakaraju? Why did he leave home? Who is responsible for the bizarre events happening in that house in the forest? All these questions can only be answered by watching the film on screen.
When we think of a horror film, we usually imagine a house, a ghost in it, and the ghost scaring everyone who enters the house. Maruthi’s previous film, ‘Prema Katha Chitram’, also had a similar story. How could he write such a story for a hero like Prabhas? That’s why he took this basic premise and blended it with various strange and unusual elements. He tried to incorporate many elements like hypnotism and mind games. In a nutshell, it’s a setup like a Chandamama (children’s magazine) story. A selfish man falls for a princess. To seize the princess and all her wealth, he learns magic and spells. Afterward, he brings the princess and all her wealth under his control. Then, his grandson comes and takes revenge on his grandfather. This feels like a beautiful fantasy story we might have read in Chandamama or Balamitra magazines. Bringing a hero like Prabhas into it was indeed a good idea. However, the execution in ‘Raja Saab’ was a major letdown. The screenplay chosen by Maruthi, and the antics included for Prabhas, the songs, and to appeal to the mass audience, were boring.
The way Maruthi started the story with the Sathya episode was good. It created intrigue, suggesting something mysterious was happening in that house. It would have been better if the entire story had continued in the same tone. But that initial impact lasted only until the first scene. Raja Saab’s entry, the fight, the song, the romance… the story progressed with a predictable screenplay, filling the narrative without offering any engaging moments. It’s unclear why Maruthi felt the need to include three heroines in this story. Did he think three heroines were necessary to bring out a vintage vibe in Prabhas? Their presence only added to the lag in the story, without any benefit. Moreover, none of the characters have a complete arc. And even the romantic scenes failed to provide any entertainment. Some of Prabhas’s dialogues were incomprehensible; they sounded mumbled and unclear.
Just before the interval, there was some turmoil in the story. The interval bang was better designed, although it could have been even better. For the first half hour of the second half, it was the same monotonous pace again. Maruthi’s films usually have good comedy, and it’s been a long time since Prabhas did a comedy role. Therefore, many expected at least a few scenes in their collaboration that would provide hearty laughter. But that comedy is missing in this film. And are there any horror elements? No, not even that. It’s a horror film; people go to be scared. But Maruthi failed to effectively deliver that element of fear. The characters in the mansion don’t understand the danger posed by Sanjay Dutt. They all relax as if they are in a safe house. They even engage in romance. It’s unclear why there’s romance in a haunted house. If they are so relaxed, why would the audience feel any tension?
If director Maruthi has done anything well in this film, it’s the climax. The film picks up pace from the hospital scene. He made good use of the mind games. He carried that momentum into the climax. The last 20 minutes feel worthwhile. But by then, the damage has already been done. Most importantly, there is some confusion in the way the Kanakaraju character is designed. He is given the build-up of being a super-genius and a psychologist. But ultimately, he resorts to occult practices for wealth… that’s all. One wonders why all that build-up was necessary.
Prabhas looked very stylish and colorful. His ease will appeal to his fans. However, Prabhas looked different in different scenes. In some places, it’s clearly evident that a body double was used. Prabhas needs to be more careful with his dubbing. However, Prabhas did well in the hospital scene. Among the three heroines, Malavika got some screen space. She was also given an action sequence. It feels like Sanjay Dutt was not utilized properly. Zarina Wahab’s acting and the importance given to her character were good. Despite the presence of Sapthagiri, Prabhas Sreenu, and Satya, they failed to evoke laughter.
The film seems to have been made with a considerable budget. The palace set is particularly impressive. The VFX are good in some places, but weak in others. Thaman’s songs are very weak; even “Naache Naache” fell flat in the theater. The background score was too loud. Maruthi’s idea was good; the concept of mixing horror and fantasy was okay. However, the execution failed. The lack of horror elements was disappointing. The comedic timing usually present in Maruthi’s films was missing. This is a pan-India film made with Prabhas. The film crew claimed to have spent four hundred crores and made the most expensive horror fantasy film in the world. However, the film doesn’t have the substance to justify that claim.
