✅ The Raja Saab (2026) Full Movie Review: Prabhas’ Horror-Fantasy Is A Rs 400 Crore Nightmare – When a film starring a pan-India superstar of Prabhas’ caliber, backed by a budget exceeding Rs 400 crore, and released during the festive Sankranti season fails to impress, it becomes more than just a box office story—it becomes a case study in how grand ambitions can crumble under weak execution. The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, arrived on January 9, 2026, with sky-high expectations. Promoted as Prabhas’ first full-fledged horror entertainer, the film promised a unique blend of horror, comedy, romance, and fantasy. What audiences got instead was a disjointed, visually inconsistent, and painfully stretched cinematic experience that has left even die-hard fans bewildered. From its theatrical run marked by tumbling collections to its OTT release that invited brutal trolling and dissection, The Raja Saab has unfortunately earned its place as one of the most disappointing big-budget films of the year. This comprehensive review examines every aspect of the film—its convoluted plot, star-studded cast, technical shortcomings, box office performance, and the post-release backlash that has sparked debates about Prabhas’ choice of projects.

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The Raja Saab (2026) – Complete Movie Review, Box Office, OTT & Analysis – FilmyFly

Movie Details 

• Full Name: The Raja Saab
• Language: Telugu (Dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada)
• Director & Writer: Maruthi
• Producer: TG Vishwa Prasad (People Media Factory)
• Music: Thaman S
• Cinematography: Karthik Palani
• Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
• Runtime: 3 hours 9 minutes (CBFC certified)
• Budget: Rs 400 crore (reported)
• Box Office Collection: Rs 174 crore (India net, lifetime)
• Theatrical Release Date: January 9, 2026
• OTT Release Date: February 6, 2026 (Extended cut on JioHotstar)
• OTT Platform: JioHotstar
• Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Action
• CBFC Rating: UA
• Critical Rating (CineJosh): 2.25 / 5
• Verdict: Below Average / Disappointing

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What Is The Raja Saab About? The Complete Plot Summary

The Raja Saab attempts to weave an elaborate emotional narrative around the bond between a grandson and his grandmother, set against a backdrop of betrayal, black magic, and haunted palaces . At its heart is Raja (Prabhas), a happy-go-lucky young man living with his devoted grandmother, Gangamma, also known as Ganga Devi (Zarina Wahab) . Gangamma has spent decades waiting for the return of her lost husband, Kanaka Raju (Sanjay Dutt), holding onto hope despite his prolonged absence .

The story takes a turn when Raja discovers a clue that might lead him to his missing grandfather. He travels to Hyderabad with the hope of reuniting his grandmother with her long-lost husband . However, what he uncovers is a shocking betrayal. Kanaka Raju, it is revealed, is dead—but his evil spirit remains. Worse, Raja learns that his grandfather was not the loving husband Gangamma believed him to be. Kanaka Raju had performed black magic on Ganga Devi, who was actually the Queen of the Devanagara Kingdom, all to steal her treasure and marry her for her wealth . This treachery caused Ganga Devi to lose everything, forcing her into poverty where she raised her grandson alone .

Enraged by this revelation, Raja decides to reclaim his grandmother’s lost fortune. This mission takes him to a haunted palace possessed by the vengeful spirit of Kanaka Raju . What follows is a battle of wits and wills as Raja enters the palace to confront his evil grandfather’s ghost . The narrative also weaves in three women—played by Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar—whose connection to Prabhas and the palace’s mysteries forms a crucial part of the plot . The film builds towards a climax involving a final confrontation between Raja and Kanaka Raju’s spirit, which attempts to blend horror, emotion, and fantasy elements . The ending also sets up a sequel, titled “The Raja Saab 2 – Circus 1935,” teasing Prabhas in a joker getup .

The Cast of The Raja Saab: Star Power Wasted

The Raja Saab boasts an impressive ensemble cast, but multiple reviews indicate that the talent was largely underutilized.

• Prabhas as Raja: For fans, seeing Prabhas in a jovial, light-hearted role after a string of serious, action-heavy films is initially refreshing. His comedy, charm, and relaxed body language are pleasant to watch . However, critics note that he appears tired and lacking energy in several scenes, almost as if “sleepwalking” through the role . His dialogue delivery could have been sharper, and in moments requiring real performance—such as the hospital sequence—he seemed lazy and lacked screen presence . A major point of criticism has been the excessive use of body doubles and face-swapping technology. In numerous scenes, even simple ones involving walking or sitting, Prabhas is visibly absent, with his face digitally grafted onto another actor’s body . One viral comment read, “When dupe screen time is more than hero screen time, the result is The Raja Saab” . This has led to brutal trolling, with fans remarking that Prabhas’ own directors are doing what trolls used to do with photo edits .
• Sanjay Dutt as Kanaka Raju: As the antagonist, Dutt brings his experience to the role and commands attention when on screen . However, the character’s motivations are poorly explained, leaving his evil acts feeling unjustified .
• Zarina Wahab as Gangamma: One of the few performers to escape criticism, Wahab stands out with a strong performance, carrying much of the film’s emotional weight .
• The Three Heroines: Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar: Critics are unanimous in their assessment that the female leads are given completely pointless roles . They exist primarily for glamour, with no real scope for acting or any impact on the story. Their presence feels like a decorative addition rather than a narrative necessity . Malavika Mohanan gets slightly more screen time and performs adequately, even doing some stunts, but her character lacks depth .
• Boman Irani: His cameo comes and goes without leaving any impression, adding to the sense of wasted potential .
• Supporting Cast: Actors like VTV Ganesh, Sapthagiri, Sathya, Prabhas Srinu, and Samuthirakani perform their roles adequately to keep the story moving, though the comedy, particularly from the comedians, is widely criticized as outdated and unfunny .

The Creative Team: Vision vs. Execution

The Raja Saab was directed and written by Maruthi, a filmmaker known for low-budget comedies and the critically acclaimed horror film Prema Katha Chitram . The scale of this project, however, seemed to overwhelm him.

“Direction and Screenplay:” Maruthi attempted to mix horror with science (hypnotism), comedy, romance across three heroines, and deep emotional family drama . Critics note that this mix did not work as intended. The screenplay is described as disjointed and extremely weak, with many scenes feeling silly, boring, and pointless . The narration is painfully stretched, with long gaps where nothing moves the story forward . There is no emotional spine, internal logic, or clarity about what the film even wants to be . The horror isn’t scary, the comedy doesn’t land, and the emotional moments feel artificial . The first half is particularly criticized as filler, with outdated romantic tracks that test patience . The film improves marginally just before the interval, and the second half holds some interest, but the logic remains confusing and unexplained . In a bizarre defense, Maruthi suggested that the film flopped because audiences watched it “in a festive mood,” which prevented them from connecting with its “deeper layers” . This remark sparked further backlash, with many questioning how a film released during a festival can blame the audience for expecting festive entertainment .

“Music by Thaman S:” Thaman’s background score is almost universally panned as excessively loud and distracting rather than effective . It often overpowers scenes that already lack impact . The songs are described as “okay” at best, failing to leave a mark .

“Cinematography by Karthik Palani:” This is one area that receives consistent praise. Palani’s work, particularly the lighting, sets the perfect mood for the film and is visually rich . The production values are top-notch, and the money spent on lavish sets is visible on screen .

“Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao:” The editing is heavily criticized, especially for failing to trim the film’s excessive length . At over three hours, the film feels bloated and exhausting, with many unnecessary scenes that should have been cut . For more on the director’s controversial statements, you can visit the Wikipedia page for Maruthi Dasari.

Critical Reception: A Universal Rejection

The Raja Saab was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. The consensus is that the film is a creative disaster that wastes its star, budget, and potential.

“CineJosh (2.25/5):” The review highlights that while the core idea is interesting and the climax is impressive, the execution is old-fashioned and the screenplay disjointed . They note that audiences struggle to connect emotionally with the story and that the writing, had it been sharper, could have elevated the film .

“IMDb User Reviews:” The user reviews on IMDb are scathing. One review describes the film as a “complete creative collapse” that “tests patience, loyalty, and basic love for cinema” . It criticizes the weak story, poor VFX, overacting, and the baffling plot point involving the grandmother’s role in her husband’s death . Another user calls it a “mixed bag” with stunning visuals but a weak story and messy presentation, giving it 4 stars exclusively for Prabhas’ screen presence and recommending it only for die-hard fans . A third simply states it’s a “below average movie” with a routine story and no horror or comedy, advising viewers to “easily skip” it .

“Critical Consensus:”
– “Weak, Disjointed Screenplay:” The story barely qualifies as one and lacks emotional depth.
– “Poor VFX and Reliance on Body Doubles:” The visual effects are embarrassingly poor, and the excessive use of body doubles for Prabhas has become a major talking point .
– “Outdated Comedy:” The humor, especially involving the supporting comedians, falls completely flat and feels stuck in an old template .
– “Wasted Cast:” Despite the star-studded lineup, none of the actors, except perhaps Zarina Wahab, are given meaningful roles .
– “Excessively Loud Music:” Thaman’s background score is more of a distraction than an enhancement .
– “Bloated Runtime:” The 3-hour-plus runtime is described as torture, with the film dragging endlessly .

Box Office Performance: A Tale of Two Opens

The Raja Saab’s box office journey was a classic case of a huge opening followed by a catastrophic fall, driven by poor word-of-mouth.

“Opening Day:” Riding on Prabhas’ star power, the film opened strong, collecting Rs 53.75 crore net in India on Day 1 .

“The Collapse:” By Day 2, collections dropped sharply by 48.22% to Rs 27.83 crore, as mixed-to-negative reviews began to impact momentum . The drop continued, with the film earning around Rs 19.10 crore on Day 3 .

“Final Collections:” By the end of its theatrical run, The Raja Saab had collected approximately Rs 174 crore net in India . Its worldwide gross was reported to be around Rs 158-174 crore, which, against a reported budget of over Rs 400 crore, made it a monumental commercial failure . The film failed to recover even 50% of its budget .

“Occupancy Rates:” The film’s regional performance was uneven. On Day 2, Telugu occupancy was a decent 44%, but Hindi occupancy was a dismal 12.95%, and Tamil occupancy was 21.11% . This indicated that the film failed to connect with audiences outside its core Telugu market.

“Budget vs. Recovery:” With a budget exceeding Rs 400 crore, The Raja Saab is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Its inability to even recover a fraction of its cost raises serious questions about the economics of star-driven, VFX-heavy spectacles .

OTT Release: Extended Cut & Brutal Backlash

After its theatrical disappointment, The Raja Saab was released on JioHotstar on February 6, 2026, with an “extended cut” . The makers claimed that technical glitches had prevented them from including certain scenes in the theatrical version, and the OTT release would rectify this with an 8-9 minute addition, which director Maruthi claimed would be “mind-blowing” .

However, the announcement was met with more trolling than excitement. Social media users sarcastically asked, “There was more of this filmed???” and “You mean extra troll material?” . The extended cut did little to change opinions. Streaming audiences, with the ability to pause and rewind, dissected the film’s flaws even more ruthlessly. Screenshots and clips highlighting poor VFX, logic gaps, and the clumsy face-swapping flooded social media . One brutally honest review stated, “One hour into The Raja Saab, and honestly, it does not deserve the hate it is getting — it deserves much more” .

The Hindi dubbed version of the film was not initially available on JioHotstar, much to the disappointment of Hindi-speaking audiences. It was later reported that the Hindi version would begin streaming on JioHotstar from March 6, 2026 .

The intense trolling also led the film’s producer, SKN, to file a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station in Hyderabad against online handles impersonating him and posting derogatory content .

Technical Analysis: Where Did It Go Wrong?

A film with a Rs 400 crore budget failing on a technical level is a severe indictment of its production.

“Visual Effects (VFX):” The VFX in The Raja Saab has been described as “embarrassingly poor” and, in comparison, makes “Adipurush start to look polished” . The heavy reliance on face-swapping technology was so obvious that viewers could spot mismatched body parts. The CGI in action sequences and fantasy elements lacked the polish and realism expected from a film of this scale .

“Body Doubles and Face-Swapping:” This has been the most damaging technical criticism. Prabhas’ absence from the screen for large portions of the film, even during simple scenes, created a jarring and inauthentic viewing experience. It raised questions about the actor’s commitment and the director’s inability to work around the star’s schedule .

“Sound Design:” Thaman’s loud and relentless background score was seen as an attempt to manufacture energy that the scenes themselves lacked. Instead of enhancing the narrative, it often clashed with it, becoming an unwelcome distraction .

“Cinematography and Production Design:” These are the film’s sole saving graces on a technical level. Karthik Palani’s visuals and the grand sets built by the art department are undeniably impressive and showcase where the money was spent .

Director's Controversial Defense

In the face of overwhelming criticism, director Maruthi’s attempts to defend the film only added fuel to the fire. In a press conference and a subsequent note, he made several statements that were met with ridicule:

– He claimed the film “flopped because audience watched it in ‘festive mood'” . He argued that this prevented viewers from connecting with the film’s “deeper layers” .
– He suggested that those mocking the film would “face karma” and experience confusion in their own lives as a result of their actions .
– He later added that “Prabhas fans aren’t disappointed with the film, but they aren’t fully satisfied either,” attributing this to a mismatch between the fans’ expectations (set by the swag-filled trailer) and the story he was presenting .

These comments were widely condemned as tone-deaf and illogical, with many pointing out that films are released during festivals precisely to maximize audiences, not to hide from them.

Positives / What Little Works in The Raja Saab

• Prabhas’ Light-Hearted Moments: Seeing Prabhas in a relaxed, comedic role after years of intense, action-packed performances provides some initial charm and freshness .
• Zarina Wahab’s Performance: The veteran actress delivers a powerful and emotional performance, standing out as one of the few genuinely good aspects of the film .
• Cinematography: Karthik Palani’s visuals and lighting are excellent, creating a rich and moody atmosphere that deserved a better film .
• Production Values: The lavish sets and overall production design are top-notch, reflecting the film’s massive budget .
• The Climax: A few reviews note that the climax is impressive and showcases Prabhas’ acting ability, but it’s too little, too late .
• Brief Emotional Moments: A few scattered emotional scenes, particularly between Prabhas and Zarina Wahab, work in isolation .

Negatives / The Overwhelming Flaws of The Raja Saab

• Incoherent, Weak Screenplay: The story is disjointed, lacks emotional depth, and fails to establish any clear narrative logic .
• Over-Reliance on Body Doubles & Poor VFX: Prabhas is visibly absent from large portions of the film, with obvious face-swapping and body doubles ruining the viewing experience .
• Outdated and Unfunny Comedy: The humor is cringe-worthy, stuck in an old template, and completely fails to land with modern OTT audiences .
• Pointless Female Leads: The three heroines have no meaningful roles and exist solely for glamour, wasting their talent .
• Excessively Loud and Distracting Music: Thaman’s background score is painfully loud and overpowers the scenes .
• Bloated and Exhausting Runtime: At over 3 hours, the film is a test of endurance, with far too many unnecessary and stretched scenes .
• Horror Elements Fail: The film is neither scary nor thrilling, completely missing the mark as a horror entertainer .
• Disastrous Hindi Dubbing: The Hindi dubbed version features shockingly bad dubbing, making it even harder to stay engaged .

Final Verdict: Is The Raja Saab Worth Watching?

The Raja Saab is a film that will likely be remembered as a significant low point in Prabhas’ illustrious career. It is a textbook example of how a great premise, an unlimited budget, and a powerful star can be undone by a complete lack of coherent vision and disciplined execution. The film’s three-hour runtime feels like an endurance test, leaving you exhausted rather than entertained.

The criticism is not limited to a few nitpicks; it is fundamental and damning. The plot is nonsensical, the comedy is from a bygone era, the horror is non-existent, and the technical aspects, particularly the VFX and the jarring use of body doubles for Prabhas, are shockingly poor for a film of this budget. Even the presence of a talented cast like Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani is rendered meaningless by roles that have no substance.

For the target audience, the verdict is clear. Die-hard Prabhas fans may find a few moments to cling to, such as his light-hearted charm in the first half and a moderately impressive climax . Some might argue that the visuals are rich enough for a one-time “timepass” watch . However, these small positives are drowned out by the overwhelming negatives.

For the general audience and even for most Prabhas admirers, The Raja Saab is a film to be avoided. It is a creative disaster that fails as a horror film, a comedy, a romance, and a fantasy. The announcement of a sequel at the end feels more like a punchline to a bad joke than a promise of more to come. As one fan brutally put it, “We defended Adipurush, but we cannot defend this” . The Raja Saab is not just a bad film; it is a 400-crore-rupee nightmare that serves as a stark warning about the perils of style over substance.

Movie Ratings Summary

• CineJosh: 2.25 / 5
• IMDb User Consensus: Overwhelmingly Negative

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Disclaimer: We do not host, upload, or link to any files on our server that violate copyright laws. This review is based on information available as of March 2026. The Raja Saab is currently streaming on JioHotstar in multiple languages, with the Hindi version available from March 6, 2026. Box office figures are independently estimated and may vary.

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Shaikh Afnan

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