Ever since Baahubali made him a pan-India superstar, expectations around Prabhas have been sky-high. Naturally, fans expect every film of his to match that scale. At such a time, when it was announced that Prabhas would be doing a film with Maruthi, a director known mainly for small-budget entertainers, many fans openly opposed the combination. There were even protests urging Prabhas not to do the film. However, ignoring fan pressure, Prabhas listened to Maruthi’s story and went ahead with Raja Saab. So how did the film turn out? Did it live up to Maruthi’s claims, or did it end up being the disappointment fans feared? Let’s find out in this review.
Story:
Raju, aka Raja Saab (Prabhas), shares a deep emotional bond with his grandmother Gangadevi (Zarina Wahab). Though she belongs to a zamindar family, she chooses to live a simple life with her grandson. As age catches up with her, Gangadevi begins to suffer from health issues, particularly memory loss. She repeatedly tells Raju about her late husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), who appears in her dreams, and asks him to find and bring him back.
Raju’s search leads him to a deserted royal palace hidden deep inside the Narsapur forest. Once there, shocking events unfold. Raju realizes that Kanakaraju is trying to kill both Gangadevi and him. What is hidden inside the palace? Why would a man who is supposedly dead want to kill his own wife and grandson? These questions form the crux of the story.
Performances:
Prabhas shoulders the entire film. In recent times, he has faced criticism for weak screen presence and limited screen time in some films. However, in Raja Saab, Prabhas is present throughout and impresses with his comic timing. That said, his romantic scenes with the heroines feel underwhelming, as usual. He performs well in action sequences and especially shines in the emotional moments during the climax. After a long time, audiences get to see a somewhat fresh version of Prabhas.
There was a lot of buzz around Sanjay Dutt’s role, but unfortunately, his character offers very little scope for performance. Zarina Wahab stands out in her key role and shares a good on-screen rapport with Prabhas. The comedy by Satya and Saptagiri works to an extent, while VTV Ganesh once again succeeds in making Telugu audiences laugh. However, many of these characters feel familiar, as if we’ve seen them in similar roles before.
Technical Aspects:
Director Maruthi seems to have completely lost grip on the story. In trying to present Prabhas in a comedy-oriented role, he fails to maintain control over the screenplay. Both the narration and direction lack clarity and consistency. Maruthi’s direction ends up being one of the biggest drawbacks.
Thaman’s music is disappointing from the start. None of the songs released before the film made an impact. Fans who had high hopes for the background score will also be let down, as it works only in one or two scenes. Cinematography is average and not particularly noteworthy. The VFX are a major letdown—despite claims of heavy investment and long production time, the visuals do not reflect that effort. Production values, however, are decent.
Analysis:
Everyone knows Prabhas is no longer a small-time hero, but Raja Saab makes one wonder if Maruthi forgot that fact. Showing Prabhas’ comic side does not require reducing his stature. His star image doesn’t need to be compromised for comedy. Audiences expect to see him presented at his current level, but Maruthi seems to have completely missed the opportunity.
It’s hard to understand why Prabhas agreed to this film and how he believed Maruthi could deliver a movie that matches his stature. If the sole intention was to make a comedy film, choosing Maruthi turns out to be a big mistake. The same errors Prabhas made with Radhe Shyam seem to have been repeated here. Films that don’t match his level or lack strong content will no longer be accepted by audiences.
Despite being promoted as a horror-comedy, Raja Saab lacks both genuine horror and effective comedy. This film proves that such a genre may not suit Prabhas. Maruthi is likely to face heavy criticism. Prabhas, however, does his part, offering some consolation to fans. Those expecting Bujjigadu or Darling-level comedy will be disappointed, but die-hard fans may still enjoy a few entertaining moments.
Plus Points:
Prabhas
One or two comedy scenes
Thaman’s background score in a few scenes
Minus Points:
Story and screenplay
Maruthi’s direction
Weak VFX
Film not matching Prabhas’ star image
Final Verdict:
This is not the kind of film that should be made with a pan-India star like Prabhas.
Banner: People’s Media Factory Producer: T.G. Vishwa Prasad Director: Maruthi Music: Thaman Cast: Prabhas, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Zarina Wahab, VTV Ganesh, Samuthirakani, Satya, Saptagiri, and others.
