The RajaSaab is a disappointing outing that may appeal only to die-hard fans, but leaves general audiences wanting more substance and cohesion despite being a stretched attempt.
A still from The RajaSaab
The RajaSaab, starring Prabhas and directed by Maruthi, arrives with high expectations, a lavish budget and the promise of a quirky horror-comedy. However, despite a few entertaining moments and the actor’s undeniable screen presence, the film struggles to hold together as a coherent or engaging experience.
Prabhas does what he can to shoulder the narrative, injecting energy through sharp one-liners and brief flashes of charm. These moments occasionally lift the film, reminding viewers of his star power. Unfortunately, they are too few and far between to compensate for the film’s deeper issues. Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar and Niddhi Agerwal's love angle seems wasted in the plotline. The female protagonists fail to bring any meat to the story apart from the flawed romance onscreen.
Does the story justify?
The story itself feels thin and overextended, relying heavily on familiar tropes. What could have been a tightly written blend of humour and horror instead turns into a cluttered narrative weighed down by unnecessary subplots and a sluggish pace. The screenplay lacks focus, and the tonal shifts, from slapstick comedy to horror to romance, often feel abrupt and disjointed. Sanjay Dutt's appearance as a ghost is a surprise worth the viewer's time. However, it gets overtly stretched in the second half. Boman Irani's character fails to do justice due to lack of screentime. Dr Padmabhushan reminds of Akshay Kumar from Bhool Bhulaiyaa but comparatively smarter and mature. Zarina Wahab becomes the reason behind the whole plot, however her constant phone calls to Raju over minute inconveniences adds an irritation onscreen.
For a film marketed as a horror-comedy, neither element truly lands. The horror lacks genuine tension, while much of the comedy feels dated or forced. Even moments meant to be playful or eerie fail to leave a lasting impact, resulting in a film that feels confused about what it wants to be. The film could have worked perfectly fine without any track in the show, the songs with the ladies looked forced and badly placed breaking the continuity of the thrill in plot.
Flaws in the film
Visually, The RajaSaab has its moments, but the VFX quality is inconsistent and underwhelming for a film of this scale. The background score, though loud and persistent, does little to enhance the mood or elevate key scenes. The lengthy runtime further tests patience, with several sequences feeling stretched beyond necessity. A lot of things were left hanging due to the editing, many scenes felt incomplete despite having a prominent space in the trailer. The ending to Sanjay Dutt's character didn't make a sensible conclusion. Zarina Wahab's reaction to his picture seemed like an overfed comic punch.
In the end, The Raja Saab comes across as a missed opportunity. While Prabhas’s performance and a handful of clever lines provide fleeting entertainment, they cannot save a film bogged down by weak writing and uneven execution. What remains is an ambitious but ultimately unhinged mix that never quite finds its rhythm.
Verdict: A disappointing outing that may appeal only to die-hard fans, but leaves general audiences wanting more substance and cohesion despite being a stretched attempt.
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