Movie Review… Prabhas’s film The Raja Saab, released on the occasion of Lohri, Sankranti and Pongal, is such a horror-comedy-fantasy, whose horror does not scare, comedy does not make one laugh, action does not thrill and one does not feel like humming the songs. Despite big budget VFX, Raja Saab, made in Telugu and Hindi, seems distant from the audience. The climax of this 3 hours 10 minutes film only lasts for half an hour. The film has Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agarwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Zarina Wahab, Boman Irani etc. and witchcraft, ghosts, vampires, but the story is such that the people do not seem happy with this king!
Prabhas has been seen in this type of comedy genre for the first time. Prabhas has tried to bring back his old darling’s fun, comic and swaggy style. The first half is impressed by his comic timing, dialogue delivery and screen presence, but the style of old formula films, despite good VFX, could not give the film the life that was expected. The film sets (especially the mansion and palace) are among the largest indoor sets in the world. Colors, lighting and some sequences look Hollywood level. Sanjay Dutt’s character of ghost/exorcist is a surprise.
Her and Prabhas’ face-off, the interval block and some hospital-climax scenes are the strongest parts, but the weak screenplay and tonal imbalance are visible in the film. Horror + comedy + romance + emotion also doesn’t click. There is a lack of logic in the story, many scenes seem meaningless and silly. The second half drags, becomes boring at many places. Prabhas’s flirting scenes or fun jokes with friends are so old and forced that instead of laughter, there is only silence or faint smiles in the theatre. The direction seems to be of old template. There is no depth in the story, everything depends on the star power of Prabhas, but Prabhas’ entry is dull and ineffective! Prabhas is in Telugu film style. Many scenes involving ghosts or supernatural effects look so cheap and cartoony that instead of fear, one laughs. Raja Saab is a film to be avoided!
-Dr. Prakash Hindustani
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