Raja Saab Movie Review
After a prolonged wait marked by repeated delays, controversies, and soaring expectations, The Raja Saab has finally arrived in theatres. Starring Prabhas in the lead, the film is directed by Maruthi and produced by T G Vishwa Prasad. Promoted as a horror-comedy with fantasy elements, the film unfortunately turns out to be a tiring and uneven watch, offering little in terms of genuine horror, humour, emotional depth, or engaging storytelling.
Despite boasting a star-studded cast and a lavish budget, The Raja Saab struggles to justify its ambition. Alongside Prabhas, the film features Niddhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar as the female leads. Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani appear in pivotal roles, while veteran actress Zareena Wahab returns to Telugu cinema after a long hiatus. Yet, strong casting alone cannot compensate for weak narration and inconsistent tone.
Plot Overview
The film opens with a brief sequence involving comedian Satya, who enters a supposedly haunted house carrying an urn and finds himself trapped inside. Intended to set the mood, the scene fails to generate either suspense or laughter, setting the tone for what follows.
The narrative then shifts to Raja (Prabhas), who lives with his grandmother Gangamma (Zareena Wahab) and his uncle’s daughter Anitha (Riddhi Kumar). While Anitha harbours feelings for Raja, Gangamma suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and believes her husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt) is still alive. She urges Raja to find him, triggering the central quest.
Raja learns that his grandfather may be in Hyderabad near Charminar and travels there in search of answers. During this phase, he meets a nun (Niddhi Agerwal) and instantly falls in love — a rushed romantic track that quickly leads into a song, lacking emotional grounding or narrative buildup.
Complications arise when Raja’s uncle (VTV Ganesh), a police constable, demands a bribe of ₹5 lakh for his superior to assist in the search. Raja manages to gather only ₹2 lakh after donating the rest towards a child’s surgery. Around the same time, Bhairavi (Malavika Mohanan) enters the story, handing Raja a large sum of money on the instructions of her grandfather (Samuthirakani). Through him, Raja discovers that Kanakaraju is hiding in the Narasapur forest.
The story then shifts to a haunted house deep within the forest, where Raja, Bhairavi, his friend, and his uncle venture inside — only to find Satya already trapped there. What happened to Kanakaraju? Why did he abandon Gangamma? And what secrets does the haunted house conceal? These questions form the core of the second half.
Analysis
While the premise holds promise, the execution falters at almost every turn. The horror elements are largely ineffective, the comedy rarely lands, and the emotional arcs feel underdeveloped. The screenplay lacks urgency, resulting in a sluggish pace that makes the film feel far longer than its runtime.
Prabhas puts in a sincere effort, but the poorly etched character and repetitive situations limit his impact. The supporting cast, despite their experience, is underutilised, and several subplots feel either rushed or unnecessary.
Verdict
The Raja Saab ultimately ends up being a missed opportunity. With a talented cast, a popular star, and a genre that offers ample scope for innovation, the film instead delivers a bland and exhausting experience. What was meant to be a fun horror-comedy spectacle turns into a forgettable outing that neither thrills nor entertains.
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