‘The Raja Saab’ Movie Review
Movie: The Raja Saab
Release Date: 09 January 2026
Runtime: 3h em
CBFC Rating: UA
Banner: People Media Factory
Cast: Prabhas, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Sunjay Dutt, Zarina Wahab, Boman Irani, Sapthagiri, Prabhas Srinu, Sathya and VTV Ganesh
Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Music: S Thaman
DOP: Karthik Palani
Producer: TG Vishwaprasad
Director: Maruthi
The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, is a grand horror-fantasy film that took nearly four years to complete. Produced by TG Vishwaprasad under People Media Factory, the film stars Prabhas, Zarina Wahab, and Sanjay Dutt. The streaming rights have been bought by Jio Hotstar.
Plot:
The film tells the emotional story of Raja (Prabhas) and his grandmother, Gangamma/Ganga Devi (Zarina Wahab). Raja sets out to find his lost grandfather, Kanaka Raju (Sanjay Dutt), and discovers a shocking truth – his grandfather is dead and has become an evil spirit. The story follows Raja’s journey to reclaim his grandmother’s lost fortune and the mysteries of the haunted palace. How the three ladies, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan and Riddhi Kumar related forms the story.
Performances
Prabhas shines in a jovial, happy-go-lucky role, showcasing his comedy and charm. His relaxed body language is a treat to watch. He enjoyed doing his role. Sanjay Dutt and Zarina Wahab deliver commendable performances, commanding attention whenever on screen.
Heroines Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar looked glamorous and did their part. Among them, Malavika got ample screen time while Nidhhi Agerwal role has different shades and she did very well in her role and looked glamorous in songs. The supporting cast, including VTV Ganesh, Sapthagiri, Prabhas Srinu and Sathya does their job well.
Highlights
Prabhas’ Charm
Technical Values
Comedy In Second Half
Climax
Drawbacks
Outdated Tracks
Clumsy Writing
Analysis
Maruthi’s attempt to mix horror elements with science (hypnotism) and balance Prabhas’s fun side, romance, and emotional scenes came out well. The first half feels like filler, with romantic tracks and comedy. The main story is saved for the second half, with a well-executed jokes and an impressive climax. The final battle between Prabhas and his evil grandfather showcases Maruthi’s vision, but feels too long.
The Raja Saab has an interesting core idea, supported by Prabhas’s performance and strong technical quality. However, the execution feels old-fashioned at times especially during the romance part, and the screenplay also feels disjointed. With sharper writing, the film could have been on another level.
Nevertheless, Prabhas’s energetic performance and Maruthi’s vision makes The Raja Saab a wholesome entertainer.
Rating: 3/5
Bottom-line: A Wholesome Entertainer
