South Indian superstar Prabhas has finally returned to the big screen with his much-awaited film The Raja Saab, which hit theatres worldwide on January 9, 2026, during the Sankranti festive window. Directed by Maruthi Dasari, the film marks Prabhas’ attempt to step away from massive action spectacles and experiment with a romantic horror-fantasy comedy. Sharing screen space with him is Sanjay Dutt, whose presence added weight and intrigue to the project even before its release.
Ever since its announcement, The Raja Saab generated huge buzz. The teaser and trailer raised expectations of a stylish, spooky entertainer with humor, mystery, and emotional depth. As the first day first show concluded, audiences rushed to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share their immediate reactions—and the verdict so far is clearly mixed.
First Day Audience Buzz on X
Early viewers largely agree on one thing:
- The first half starts slow,
- The interval block is decent,
- The climax and last 30–40 minutes are the strongest portions.
Several viewers praised Prabhas’ screen presence and a few emotional scenes, especially the hospital sequence, which many called one of his best moments in recent years. However, the screenplay and pacing became the most criticized aspects.
One user wrote:
“Prabhas shines in emotional scenes, especially the hospital episode. But the weak screenplay pulls the film down. Overall, an average entertainer.”Another review highlighted:
“First half feels dull, but Sanjay Dutt’s tantric backstory and the VFX sequences stand out. Second half needed to be killer.”
On the flip side, some viewers were disappointed, calling the film “confused” and “inconsistent,” rating it between 2.5 to 3 stars.
Story Overview (Spoiler-Free)
The Raja Saab revolves around Raju (Prabhas), a cheerful yet grounded man who lives with his grandmother Gangadevi (Zarina Wahab). Suffering from Alzheimer’s, she has forgotten almost everything—except her long-lost husband Kanaka Raju (Sanjay Dutt), who disappeared years ago.
Driven by her condition, Raju sets out to find his grandfather and reunite the broken family. His journey takes him to Hyderabad, where he meets Bhairavi (Malavika Mohanan) and Blessy (Nidhhi Agerwal). What begins as a simple emotional mission soon turns dark when Raju learns that Kanaka Raju lives in a mysterious mansion hidden deep inside the Narasapur forest—a place surrounded by chilling rumors and unexplained incidents.
As secrets unfold, the film dives into themes of greed, deception, generational revenge, hypnotism, and dark rituals, forming the backbone of its horror-fantasy narrative.
Analysis: Where the Film Works—and Where It Fails
Director Maruthi, known for films like Prema Katha Chitram, attempts to scale up his horror-comedy style for a pan-India star like Prabhas. The idea—mixing folklore, fantasy, horror, and comedy—is promising on paper. Unfortunately, the execution struggles.
What Works:
- The core concept of a haunted mansion tied to family trauma
- A well-designed interval block
- The climax, which finally brings urgency and energy
- Prabhas’ emotional performance, especially in the second half
- Zarina Wahab’s role, which adds emotional weight
What Doesn’t:
- Weak and outdated writing
- Excessive songs and romance that disrupt pacing
- Lack of genuine horror or fear factor
- Overuse of green mat and inconsistent VFX
- Comedy that largely fails to land
- Poor character development, especially for the three female leads
The biggest letdown is Sanjay Dutt’s character design. Built up as a highly intelligent and psychologically sharp figure, his eventual dependence on dark rituals feels contradictory and underwhelming.
Performances
- Prabhas looks stylish and colorful, though his appearance is inconsistent in places, and dubbing could have been better. His comedy works in a few scenes, and the emotional portions are handled well.
- Sanjay Dutt delivers a decent performance but feels underutilized.
- Malavika Mohanan gets comparatively more screen time and even an action scene, but her character lacks depth.
- Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar are given very little to work with.
- Zarina Wahab stands out in the climax, despite melodramatic writing.
- Satya, Prabhas Sreenu, and Saptagiri manage to create a few engaging moments with Maruthi-style comedy.
Technical Aspects
- Music (Thaman S): Largely underwhelming. Songs fail to leave an impact, and the background score feels loud rather than effective.
- Editing: One of the film’s weakest points. The film drags heavily, especially in the first hour and pre-climax.
- Cinematography: Gives the film an outdated look in many places.
- VFX: Inconsistent—some scenes work, many don’t. Over-ambition hurts the visual experience.
Positives
- A few Maruthi-style comedy scenes
- Prabhas’ timing in select sequences
- Emotional climax
Negatives
- Outdated screenplay
- Aimless direction
- Poor music
- Excessive runtime
- Inconsistent VFX
- Lack of real horror
Final Verdict
After the massive success of Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD, expectations from Prabhas were sky-high. The Raja Saab aimed to be a lighter, experimental film but ended up being neither a satisfying comedy nor an effective horror film.
Despite a few engaging moments, the film suffers from weak writing, poor pacing, and confused execution. While fans may enjoy Prabhas’ presence and the climax, the overall experience feels below average.
Final Verdict: A Misfired Illusion
An ambitious idea that never fully comes together on screen.
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