The Raja Saab review: Prabhas shines bright in a compelling yet imperfect horror comedy

Cast: Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani

Director: Maruthi

Language: Telugu/Hindi (dubbed)

The Raja Saab, one of the biggest releases of the year, had created a great deal of buzz among fans ahead of its release despite its muted promotions, thanks to Prabhas’ unparalleled popularity. The stylish trailers too added to the curiosity surrounding the horror comedy. So did the film live up to expectations and prove to be a treat for movie buffs? Let’s find out

What’s The Raja Saab about?

The Raja Saab revolves around Raju (Prabhas), a simpleton who shares a strong bond with his grandmother Ganga Devi (Zarina Wahab). He lives a carefree life and enjoys spending time with his friends. His world, however, is turned upside down when he learns a dark secret about his grandfather Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT4HcYAeV5U

This forces him to trace him down. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that his ‘thatha’ is a mysterious man with supernatural powers. Moreover, he has a sinister plan in mind. This sets the stage for a showdown between Raju and his grandfather’s ghost. 

Terrific second half powers The Raja Saab

Traditionally speaking,  horror comedies cater to a niche audience. Moreover, such films are shot on a limited budget. Take Aranmanai 4, for instance. The Sundar C-directed film was made on a budget of merely Rs 40 crore. Moreover, it appealed mainly to the Tamil audience. The Raja Saab is an exception on this front.

The film’s budget is around Rs 400 crore, which makes it the most expensive horror comedy of all time. The fact that it stars Prabhas- the face of blockbusters such as Baahubali 2 and Kalki 2898 AD– has helped it garner attention outside the Telugu states (its core market ) as well. These factors alone make The Raja Saab a step in the right direction for the horror comedy genre as a whole.

Luckily, the execution does justice to the film’s canvas. The Raja Saab opens with an inherently spooky sequence revolving around a key character’s ashes. This sets the stage for what is to follow. The focus then shifts to Prabhas’ character. The first half takes time to get going and ends up with a mixed bag. The Saaho star’s scenes with Zarina Wahab work well and add emotional depth to the plot.

His intro sequence has been shot stylishly. This helps it strike a chord with viewers, even though it is (understandably)  not as grand as the one seen in Baahubali 2. The dark and intense sequences that delve into Sanjay Dutt’s backstory, too, have come out well and instantly build an aura around the character. 

However, on the flip side, the romantic scenes are mediocre at best and dilute the impact of the first half. Malavika Mohanan’s action scene too, does not really add much to the narrative. 

The Raja Saab, however, makes up for these shortcomings with an excellent second half. The post-interval segment begins with some top-notch situational comedy. These sequences tickle the funnybone despite being a tad predictable. Dialogues such as ‘dadaji ne nani yaad dila di’ too add to the fun.

 The Raja Saab peaks in the last 40 minutes when Kanakaraju plays mind games with his ‘captives’. Director Maruthi then proceeds to craft a climax that is complex, intriguing, and (intentionally) confusing. The final fight sequence too hits the right notes with its emotional depth. The crocodile fight scene and the one where Prabhas’ character fights his ‘shadow’ too are highlights of Raja Saab. 

Prabhas steals the show

Coming to the performances, Prabhas elevates the film with his impeccable comic timing. His charm and energy levels remind one of his work in films such as Darling and Mr Perfect. Prabhas also hits it out of the park in the hospital sequence. His eyes do the talking in the said scene, which is the hallmark of a good actor. 

Sanjay Dutt brings his A-game to the table in the flashback portions and the climax. His intensity is hard to miss. Boman Irani too, makes an impact despite being underutilised. Malavika Mohanan and Nidhhi Agerwal up the glam quotient of The Raja Saab. Riddhi Kumar delivers a passable performance but gets limited screen time. Zarina channels her character’s vulnerability quite well. She also shines in the climax. 

The supporting cast, which includes names such as VTV Ganesh and Samuthirakani, does its job reasonably well. 

S Thaman’s soundtrack disappoints

S Thaman’s soundtrack is disappointing as none of the songs, barring the foot-tapping Nache Nache, are catchy or even hummable. The editing could have been better, as some of the scenes in the first half drag. The other technical aspects are up to the mark. 

To sum up, The Raja Saab is an ambitious and grand horror comedy that leaves an impact despite some noticeable shortcomings in the first half.