The Raja Saab Review: Prabhas’ Horror Fantasy Disappoints Despite Strong Star Power
The Raja Saab Review is here, starring Prabhas, released in theatres on January 9, 2026, with expectations of delivering a refreshing mix of horror, fantasy, and comedy. Directed by Maruthi, the film promised a genre-bending experience backed by star power and grand visuals. Unfortunately, despite a few emotional highs and Prabhas’ committed performance, The Raja Saab struggles with weak writing, bloated runtime, and confused execution—resulting in mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and audiences alike.
The Raja Saab Review: Story & Premise
The film follows Raju (Prabhas), a kind-hearted man deeply attached to his grandmother Gangadevi (Zarina Wahab). To restore her lost honour, Raju confronts his estranged grandfather Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), who resides in a haunted ancestral palace.
What sets The Raja Saab apart on paper is its unusual blend of hypnotism, supernatural fantasy, comedy, and family drama. Guided by Dr. Padmabhushan (Boman Irani), Raju uses self-hypnosis and psychic abilities to enter metaphysical realms and battle generational trauma and greed.
While the premise is novel and intriguing, the execution falters. Director Maruthi attempts to juggle too many genres at once, resulting in a narrative that feels overstuffed and unfocused. At a lengthy 3 hours and 10 minutes, the film’s pacing becomes its biggest enemy, turning what could have been a tight fantasy thriller into an exhausting watch.
The Raja Saab Review: Performances
What Works
- Prabhas delivers a relatively grounded and restrained performance compared to his recent larger-than-life roles. His charm, emotional sincerity, and action presence form the backbone of the film.
- Zarina Wahab impresses in emotionally charged scenes, lending warmth and authenticity to the grandmother-grandson bond.
- Boman Irani brings gravitas and clarity to the hypnosis-driven portions of the second half, which stand out as the film’s strongest segments.
What Falls Flat
- Sanjay Dutt, despite a menacing setup, fails to make a lasting impact as the antagonist. The final confrontation lacks the intensity promised earlier.
- Female leads Malavika Mohanan and Nidhi Agerwal are underutilized, with limited screen presence and poorly developed character arcs.
- Supporting characters appear inconsistently, weakening the ensemble and emotional payoff.
Technical Aspects & Execution
Positives
- VFX is effective in select fantasy and metaphysical sequences, enhancing the film’s supernatural ambitions.
- Thaman S’s background score elevates key moments and adds emotional weight, though it cannot compensate for narrative flaws.
Major Flaws
- Weak screenplay with poor justification for character motivations and plot developments.
- Severe pacing issues, especially in the first half, which feels unnecessarily stretched.
- Genre confusion—the horror lacks scares, comedy fails to land, and fantasy elements feel incoherent rather than immersive.
The Raja Saab Review: Critical & Audience Reception
| Source | Rating | Key Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Express | Mixed | “Potential goes grossly unrealized… tangled mess” |
| Telugu360 | 2.25/5 | “Blends hypnotism, fantasy, horror… resembles folklore” |
| GreatAndhra | 2/5 | “Horror without the chill… narration misstep” |
| 123Telugu | Below Average | “Works only in bits… never cohesive” |
| Audience (Reddit) | Mixed | “First half carried by Prabhas… scenes feel unnecessary” |
Overall Consensus:
Critics acknowledge the ambition and Prabhas’ sincere effort but criticize the film’s unfocused storytelling, excessive length, and ineffective genre blending. Even fans admit that while premium formats like 4DX enhance spectacle, the narrative remains underwhelming.
Final Verdict: Skip Unless You’re a Prabhas Loyalist
The Raja Saab Review had all the ingredients for a memorable horror-fantasy entertainer—an intriguing hypnosis concept, a haunted palace setting, emotional family drama, and a bankable superstar. Sadly, poor writing, tonal inconsistency, and narrative bloat drag the film down.
- Watch if: You are a die-hard Prabhas fan curious to see his lighter, more emotional side. Book your tickets here.
- Skip if: You expect sharp horror, tight storytelling, or genre coherence.
- Best Option: Wait for an OTT release or a trimmed version.
Rating: 2.5/5
A missed opportunity that never fully taps into its imaginative potential.
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