When a film carries a massive budget of Rs 400 crore and stars a powerhouse like Prabhas, expectations naturally soar. The RajaSaab, directed by Maruthi, sets out to blend fantasy, horror, and comedy into a grand spectacle. Unfortunately, what unfolds is an uneven, loud, and often baffling narrative that fails to deliver either genuine laughs or spine-tingling thrills.
Story
At its core, The RajaSaab revolves around Raja, a lighthearted villager living with his grandmother Gangamma, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Her most vivid memories are of her missing husband Kanakaraju, prompting Raja to embark on a quest to find his grandfather. A clue leads him to Hyderabad, where one mysterious incident after another draws him to an eerie palace linked to Kanakaraju.
The palace supposedly holds answers to Gangamma’s dreams, Raja’s search, and a supernatural mystery. Yet, over its exhausting three-hour runtime, the film meanders from villages to city outskirts without narrative focus. Attempts to weave in exorcism, hypnosis, and tantric rituals feel half-baked, resulting in a muddled screenplay that struggles to hold attention.
Performances
Prabhas brings his signature charm to Raja, but the character is underdeveloped, with little backstory or emotional depth. Sanjay Dutt’s presence is sporadic and underwhelming, while Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar are reduced to ornamental roles with no meaningful contribution to the plot.
Zarina Wahab and others showed some promise but poor portrayal and subdued characterization leave them unnoticed.
Behind the Scenes
The production scale is undeniably large, but the visual effects are inconsistent, with obvious green-screen shots and artificial enhancements that detract from immersion. Editing choices are abrupt and disjointed, further exposing gaps in the storytelling.
Even moments meant to be spooky are undermined by over-the-top costume sequences and elaborate makeup, making the haunted palace feel more like a fashion runway than a site of paranormal danger.
There are fleeting glimpses of potential, such as a hospital scene that creatively blends comedy with horror tropes, but these moments are rare. The screenplay’s inability to develop its supernatural elements—particularly hypnosis and exorcism—leaves intriguing ideas unexplored.
Final Verdict
The RajaSaab had the ingredients for a solid horror comedy but ends up as a costly misfire. Despite Prabhas’s occasional comic timing and the film’s grand budget, it suffers from weak writing, superficial characters, and genre confusion. What could have been an engaging supernatural romp instead becomes a tedious, visually tacky experience that neither scares nor entertains.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Also Read:
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