by The Prabhas-starrer PAN India horror-comedy fantasy film The Raja Saab was released worldwide in theatres on January 9, 2026, and expectations were incredibly high from this Maruthi directorial, as it has been made on a massive budget estimated between ₹400–450 crore.
The makers of The Raja Saab were banking on the immense popularity of Baahubali superstar Prabhas, which is why the film received a PAN India release. To add to the buzz, three highly popular actresses — Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Nidhhi Agerwal — were cast as the female leads opposite Prabhas.
But did the film live up to expectations, or did it turn out to be a damp squib? Read our complete review of The Raja Saab below and check out our final star rating.
Storyline Review:
The story follows Raju (played by Prabhas), a spoiled brat who lives with his grandmother, Gangamma. His world takes a dark turn with the arrival of Kanakaraju, an evil sorcerer driven by an unending lust for wealth and immortality, who uses hypnosis to achieve his sinister goals. In stark contrast, Raju is a carefree bachelor with not one but three romantic interests — hardly the kind of person you’d expect to face a master of the dark arts.
As fate would have it, Dr. Padmabhushan (Boman Irani), a renowned psychologist and paranormal expert, enters Raju’s life. He guides Raju through the art of self-hypnosis and helps him unlock his psychic chakras, even as Kanakaraju’s ominous presence looms over him. As the boundaries between good and evil begin to blur, Raju must tap into his inner strength to defeat the dark sorcerer once and for all.
The biggest problem with this storyline is its lack of originality and freshness. The “haunted royal mansion with ghosts” formula has been used countless times in Indian cinema — from Annabelle Sethupathi and Bhool Bhulaiyaa to Bulbbul and others. Audiences are becoming tired of this overused trope.
The movie also fails miserably as a horror-comedy, mainly due to its slow-paced narrative and a weak first half. Though it marginally improves in the second half, it still isn’t enough to save this chaotic plot. It almost seems like director Maruthi was unsure about the film’s genre — whether he wanted it to be horror-fantasy, horror-comedy, or horror-drama.
Pros and Cons of The Raja Saab (2026)
Pros:
- Prabhas delivers a strong performance in his old “Darling” avatar.
- The soundtrack and BGM by Thaman S are impressive.
Cons:
- Messy screenplay and direction by Maruthi.
- The first half drags due to poor pacing.
- The film is unnecessarily long and could easily have been 30 minutes shorter.
- Confusion about its intended genre.
- All three actresses are underutilized and reduced to mere eye candy.
If you’re a fan of Prabhas’ old-school “Darling” era (before Baahubali), The Raja Saab might still hold some nostalgic appeal. And if you want to catch the glamorous side of Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Nidhhi Agerwal, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth — especially in the peppy “Nache Nache” party number, where Malavika shines the most.
Sanjay Dutt as the evil sorcerer Kanakaraju puts in an intense performance, particularly during his confrontations with Prabhas and the first-half climax scene. However, even a veteran like him can’t save the film when the core narrative itself is a complete mess.
Final Verdict:
The Raja Saab features one of Prabhas’s best performances since Baahubali: Part 1, but writer-director Maruthi fails him with a poorly written and confusing script. Despite the high production value and star power, The Raja Saab ultimately suffers from weak storytelling and lack of direction.
Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Watch The Raja Saab only if you’re a die-hard Prabhas fan or someone drawn to its glamorous leading ladies. Otherwise, it’s better to wait for its OTT release.
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