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The Raja Saab backdrop

The Raja Saab

Also known as The Rajasaab

8 January 2026Telugu3h 6mPart 1 of The RajaSaab series
out of 10
Unfavorablemost critics didn't like it
Monk Score · 7 scored reviews · 3 not rated

Weighted from a 3.4 average · Why?

Bloated and lazily written, this horror comedy wastes both Prabhas and its premise.

Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Prabhas's screen presence
  • Criticised: Messy writing and wasted premise

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Critic consensus

What 9 critics are saying

Critical reception for The Raja Saab is overwhelmingly negative, with most reviewers finding it a significant disappointment given Prabhas's profile. Critics widely condemned the film's messy, lazy, and outdated writing, its excessive runtime of over three hours, and its failure to realise the potential of its central premise. A handful of reviewers acknowledged that the film has an interesting core idea and that Prabhas's screen presence offers occasional relief, but the consensus is that these elements are not enough to salvage the overall experience.

How the 7 scores spread

3 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 3.4 · how scores work

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (10)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Filmfare

    Film review

    While The Raja Saab attempts to blend mystery, horror, and humour, it works only in parts. Given Prabhas's stature and past performances, the film ultimately turns out to be a letdown.
  2. Hindustan Times

    Film review

    Unfortunately for the Prabhas-starrer, whenever it makes an attempt at the above-mentioned romance, it tests your patience. The humour works in bits and pieces. The 'horror comedy romance' never reaches its full potential after making you sit through an over-3-hour-long film.
  3. Indian Express

    Film review

    The Raja Saab is a film whose potential goes grossly unrealised because of an oversight, one that ignores its novelty until very late, as well as a sloppy, outdated approach that simply seems lost from start to finish. Prabhas' affable presence and the film's solid central idea cannot save it from spiraling out of control under the weight of its own ambitions.
  4. India Today

    Film review

    Director Maruthi's The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt and Nidhhi Agerwal, is a fantasy horror comedy that relies heavily on the lead actor. However, there's hardly anything that's redeemable in this soulless film.
  5. KoiMoi

    Film review

    The RajaSaab makes no sense at all. No story, no act, no climax, terrible setup, petrifying background, unrealistic dubbed dialogues, irritating songs, and a horrible run-time! It starts, and then it feels like a slow poison; you just sit and wait for it to finish and not lose your health in between!
  6. Mid-Day

    Film review

    To have an entire three-hour-plus movie, where everyone around the hero is as pointless as the 'zero' button of a ceiling fan, must mean a lotta pressure to deliver, when the point of it is basically hot air.
  7. Firstpost

    Film review

    The Raja Saab is more than just a horror comedy or a larger-than-life ode to the stardom of the leading man. It's a film that also talks about family bonds and the battle with mental illness.
  8. Mid-Day

    Film review

    The RajaSaab is a disappointing outing that may appeal only to die-hard fans, but leaves general audiences wanting more substance and cohesion despite being a stretched attempt. Despite a few entertaining moments and the actor's undeniable screen presence, the film struggles to hold together as a coherent or engaging experience.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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