The Raja Saab Review: Prabhas Sankranthi Hopes Crash With Confusing Horror Drama

After achieving Pan India stardom, Darling Prabhas appears to have grown somewhat distant from the Telugu audience. Fans of the Young Rebel Star believed that The Raja Saab would bridge that gap and reconnect him with his core fan base.

The Raja Saab Review

Once Prabhas rose to Pan India fame, many felt that he had moved away from Telugu cinema roots. His loyal fans expected The Raja Saab to compensate for that absence and also serve as a festive Sankranti celebration. However, expectations took a hit when the first teaser failed to impress, followed by underwhelming songs. Hope was briefly restored when the trailer, released during the pre release event, generated some buzz. The film eventually reached audiences on Friday as a Sankranti release. Let us examine how The Raja Saab performs overall.

Story

Gangamma, played by Zarina Wahab, repeatedly narrates stories about her husband to her grandson Raju, portrayed by Prabhas, hoping to reunite with him. Raju sets out in search of his grandfather, played by Sanjay Dutt. Along the way, two women portrayed by Malavika Mohanan and Nidhi Aggarwal join the journey. Raju is already in love with another woman, played by Riddhi Kumar.

As the story unfolds, the king, his companions, and their romantic partners find themselves trapped inside a palace while attempting to capture the grandfather, who has turned into a ghost. What challenges do they encounter inside the palace? How does the king overcome them? And what was the true objective of the original grandfather? These questions form the core of The Raja Saab.

Analysis

The film opens with a song, but the director fails to present Prabhas effectively through the visuals or the content. His overall appearance in the movie is disappointing. The film lacks logical consistency from the beginning, and instead of improving, it becomes increasingly chaotic. It remains unclear whether the movie is meant to be a blend of logic, magic, horror, comedy, or fantasy.

Prabhas appears to have trusted the director blindly. Several scenes feel outdated, especially the interactions between the hero and heroines, resembling old era cinema. The romantic scenes lack purpose and coherence. One particularly absurd moment involves a heroine casually bringing crores of rupees to a roadside tea stall, making the sequence hard to digest.

In the second half, once all characters reach the royal palace, Sanjay Dutts portions become somewhat engaging. However, the directors vision remains confusing. The climax is the only segment that sustains interest. The visual effects used by the People Media Factory team add some value in the latter half.

Despite claims that characters cannot leave the palace due to magical mantras, modern elements like mobile phones, pizza, and burgers appear, creating further confusion. It is unclear whether the director felt pressured to deliver a Pan India spectacle or wanted to attempt something different altogether.

The songs are poorly mixed, with noise overpowering melody. Prabhas, Zarina Wahab, and Sanjay Dutt manage to hold attention in the final thirty minutes. Among the female leads, Malavika Mohanan receives relatively better screen presence.

Nidhi Aggarwal looks glamorous, but this film does little to strengthen her market value. Riddhi Kumars role lacks significance. Boman Irani appears briefly without impact. Comedians Satya, Saptagiri, and VT Ganesh attempt humor, but the results are mixed. Cinematography stands out positively, while Thaman delivers loud background music that may strain the audience. Editing issues are evident, with unnecessary breaks and a confusing narrative flow. Overall, Tollywoods Sankranti offering turns out to be a major disappointment.

Verdict

The Raja Saab ends up being a cluttered and exhausting experience. It fails to satisfy Prabhas fans and weakens his on screen image. Director Maruthi appears to have treated a Pan India star like a routine hero, despite having unlimited budget and strong technical support. None of these elements come together effectively.

Interestingly, Maruthi even remarked at the pre release event that fans could walk out if they disliked the film. A sequel titled The Raja Saab Circus has been announced, though it feels unnecessary. Ultimately, the responsibility for the films outcome lies with director Maruthi. How he will handle the backlash from disappointed Darling fans remains to be seen.

Tagline: Raja Saab damages Darling image

Rating: 2.25 out of 5