‘Raja Saab’ stumbles as a horror-comedy that fails to scare or amuse. Directed by Maruthi, this Prabhas vehicle promises supernatural thrills mixed with laughs but delivers mostly tedium. The star plays a man thrust into a haunted ancestral home, joined by Nidhhi Agerwal and Malavika Mohanan as love interests. Riddhi Kumar adds little as a sidekick.
The plot meanders through ghostly encounters and family secrets, recycling tropes from better Telugu fright fests. Prabhas mugs through comedy bits, his charisma strained by weak writing. Agerwal and Mohanan fare no better, stuck in formulaic roles. Supporting cast, including veteran Brahmanandam, recycles slapstick without fresh punchlines.
Visual effects disappoint, with cheap CGI ghosts that look cartoonish. Horror set pieces lack tension, jumping between dull jump scares and unfunny gags. The score tries to build atmosphere but drowns in overblown orchestration. Runtime drags at over two hours, with second-half twists predictable and unearned.
Maruthi aims for a mass entertainer yet misses the mark on both scares and humour. Prabhas fans may overlook flaws for his presence, but others will find little to savour. ‘Raja Saab’ earns 2 stars for fleeting energetic moments amid a forgettable mess.
Movie rating: ★★