Rebel Star Prabhas stars in The Raja Saab, with Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar playing the female leads. Sanjay Dutt appears as the antagonist. The film is produced by TG Vishwa Prasad. Director Maruthi, who earlier made the horror-comedy Prema Katha Chitram nearly ten years ago, now attempts a fantasy horror comedy on a much bigger scale. So, how effective is this attempt?
Story:
Raju (Prabhas) has no one except his grandmother, Gangamma (Zarina Wahab). Though Gangamma suffers from Alzheimer’s, she never forgets her husband Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt), who was separated from her many years ago and whom she still waits for. When Raju learns that Kanakaraju is in Hyderabad, he sets out to find his grandfather. How does Raju reach the fort in the Narsapur forest? What obstacles does Kanakaraju place for those who enter the fort? What is the connection between Raju and Ganga Devi (Ammu Abhirami), the heir to the Devanagari princely state? Does Raju, aka Raja Saab, finally escape from the fort? The film answers these questions.
What about on-screen performances?
Prabhas impresses with his energy and screen presence. His emotional scenes with Zarina Wahab work well. Fans will surely like his role in the film.
Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Kanakaraju is a major plus and brings depth to the proceedings. Among the heroines, glamour takes precedence over performance.
Nidhhi Agerwal is decent, Malavika Mohanan needs better control over expressions, and Riddhi Kumar has a limited scope and does not bring much to the narrative.
Ammu Abhirami fits well as the royal heir, while Anandi shines in the opening song. Sapthagiri is okay, and so is Prabhas Sreenu.
Satya, Prabhas Sreenu, and VTV Ganesh manage a few laughs, though some comic tracks end abruptly. Boman Irani’s role is brief but effective.
What about off-screen talents?
Prabhas agreeing to a horror-comedy fantasy surprised many, especially by giving Maruthi such a massive pan-India platform.
Given Maruthi’s earlier successes like Prema Katha Chitram, Bhale Bhale Magadivoy, Mahanubhavudu, and Prati Roju Pandage, expectations were naturally high. However, the film does not fully live up to them.
Comedy remains Maruthi’s strength, and it shows in parts. Prabhas Sreenu and Satya provide some entertainment during the escape sequences.
Prabhas delivers a few sarcastic one-liners effectively. He looks stylish, energetic, and cheerful throughout. Still, the film fails to completely satisfy fans.
The concept has potential and includes interesting elements like hypnotism and greed-driven magical powers. However, these ideas are diluted by a screenplay aimed at pan-India commercial appeal, pushing Maruthi’s natural comedy to the background.
The film opens on an engaging note, but interest fluctuates as it progresses. Love tracks involving Nidhhi Agerwal and Malavika Mohanan slow the pace, especially in the second half.
While the interval block is effective, excessive romantic scenes reduce engagement. The film regains momentum during the pre-climax, and the climax delivers a decent high.
Thaman’s background score works in parts, but poor sound mixing affects dialogue and song clarity. Karthik Palani’s cinematography gives the film a grand look.
VFX is effective in some scenes but inconsistent overall. Producer TG Vishwa Prasad’s lavish spending is evident on screen through the grand visuals.
What’s Good:
A refreshing Prabhas
A few thrills
What’s Bad:
Lack of grip in emotions
Lengthy run time
Boring narration
Silly comedy
Verdict:
Overall, Prabhas’s energetic presence is the biggest strength of The Raja Saab. Maruthi presents him well, and the concept is interesting, but the film does not engage consistently from start to finish. While the introduction, interval, and climax work, fans may feel only partially satisfied. Prabhas fans, however, can watch the film without high expectations.
TeluguBulletin.Com Rating 2.25/5