The Raja Saab Review: Prabhas Tries Horror Comedy, Results Feel Mixed
Prabhas tries horror comedy in The Raja Saab, but uneven writing, weak humour, and slow pacing hold the film back.
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The Raja Saab is one of the most anticipated releases of early 2026, bringing Prabhas into a new territory, a horror-fantasy comedy directed by Maruthi. Set against a spooky mansion, supernatural twists, family ties, and comic moments, the film had big potential. But does it live up to the buzz? Let’s unpack it.
Narrative Outline
At its core, The Raja Saab follows Raju (Prabhas), a man searching for his missing grandfather. What he finds is far from ordinary. The story includes eerie events, ghostly secrets, and a strange world where fantasy and reality mix. The setup promises both scares and fun. However, the film does not handle this mix well. It often fails to balance horror and comedy.
Highlights
Prabhas Tries Something New
Prabhas gives his all to this unusual role. Coming off larger-than-life action parts, he leans into humour with sincerity. That effort alone makes many scenes watchable.
Second Half Has Interesting Moments
The second half introduces some intriguing sequences, especially emotional beats, psychological flashes, and face-offs between Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt’s character, that break the monotony.
Zarina Wahab’s Emotional Touch
Zarina Wahab’s performance adds quiet depth that works beautifully in places the comedy and horror struggle.
Drawbacks
Uneven Writing and Tone
Instead of creating a clear identity, the film constantly shifts between horror, comedy, and fantasy without ever fully committing. The writing lacks precision, and that leaves many scenes feeling jumbled.
Comedy Often Misses the Mark
For a film marketed as a comedy-horror, the humour doesn’t land consistently. Many jokes fall flat, and the staging around comic beats feels awkward.
Weak Character Development
The female leads and supporting cast don’t get enough scope to shine. Characters exist more as plot devices than fully drawn personalities.
Length and Pacing Issues
At over three hours, the film drags. Early portions feel slow, and the pacing issues make this runtime more noticeable than it should be.
Technical Aspects
The production quality is strong, but the background music is often too loud and ruins quiet moments. The CGI looks uneven and does not always feel realistic. Some scenes drag because of slow editing. The camera work has a few good shots, but the lighting in horror scenes fails to create real tension. The sound effects focus more on loud noise than building atmosphere.
Verdict
The Raja Saab has some entertaining moments, especially when Prabhas tries something different. But the uneven tone, weak comedy, and slow pacing stop the film from becoming what it wanted to be. It is not a bad movie, but it is not as satisfying as many people expected. It feels like a good idea that did not get the strong execution it deserved.
Rating: (3/5)
Who’ll Enjoy It: Die-hard Prabhas fans and those curious about genre hybrids.
Who Might Be Disappointed: Viewers looking for tight storytelling, polished comedy, or a truly engaging horror experience.
