The Raja Saab

The Raja Saab marks Prabhas’ first full-fledged horror fantasy film. With Maruthi at the helm, the film attempts to blend horror, fantasy, and comedy, featuring Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar in prominent female roles.

Story Overview

Gangamma, portrayed by Zarina Wahab, is an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Despite forgetting most of her surroundings, she clings to memories of her late husband, Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), a former exorcist believed to be in exile. Her grandson, Raju (Prabhas), takes care of her and sets out to uncover the truth about his grandfather’s mysterious past. His journey leads him to Hyderabad, where he discovers that Kanakaraju has long been dead and has returned as a malevolent spirit. As Raju delves deeper into his grandfather’s dark secrets and greed-driven actions, a psychological and emotional confrontation unfolds, forming the crux of the story.

Trailer

Performances and Characters

Prabhas steps out of his usual action-hero persona to explore comedy, delivering a sincere but uneven performance. While some scenes generate genuine laughter, the humour works inconsistently. Satya complements his comic timing, adding some levity to the narrative.

Zarina Wahab brings depth and dignity to her role, creating a strong emotional thread in key sequences. Sanjay Dutt’s performance stands out for its intensity, with his psychological games adding intrigue and capturing audience attention whenever he dominates a scene. The second half features moments that shine, including Prabhas’ encounters with shadows, Sanjay Dutt’s manipulative interactions with Boman Irani, and an emotionally charged hospital scene. However, these sequences are too sparse to uplift the overall narrative.

Malavika Mohanan’s debut role in Tollywood is limited in scope, while Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar mainly serve ornamental purposes. Certain songs, especially “Nache Nache,” disrupt the suspenseful flow and feel misplaced.

Technical Aspects

Director Maruthi’s ambition to create a grand horror fantasy is evident, but inconsistent writing and execution prevent the story from coming together. Thaman S’ background score is overly loud at times, which diminishes the emotional impact of several scenes. Karthik Palani’s cinematography is visually appealing in parts, yet lacks consistency. Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao’s editing could have been sharper, particularly in the first half, to remove filler sequences and improve pacing. The CGI work is average, and although production values are respectable, they fail to elevate the film.

Verdict

The Raja Saab delivers only in bits and fails to cohere into a satisfying whole. Prabhas’ comedic attempt is earnest but inconsistent. Underwritten female characters, pacing issues, and tonal imbalance weigh the film down. While the second half offers a few engaging sequences, they are insufficient to lift the overall experience. The film may appeal to die-hard Prabhas fans or viewers with an interest in horror fantasy, provided they keep their expectations measured.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What genre is The Raja Saab?

It is a horror fantasy film with occasional comedy elements.

Does Prabhas succeed in his comedic role?

His comedy works intermittently, with only select scenes generating laughter.

Can the film be watched with family?

Due to horror elements, it may not be suitable for very young children.

What are the main drawbacks of the film?

Pacing issues, tonal imbalance, underdeveloped characters, and unnecessary song sequences.

Is the second half better than the first?

The second half contains a few notable sequences but not enough to improve the overall film.