The film ‘The Raja Saab’, starring Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt, was released in theatres on January 9, 2026. Positioned as a blend of horror, fantasy and comedy, the film is written and directed by Maruthi and produced by T. G. Vishwa Prasad. The cast includes Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani and Zarina Wahab.
According to the review, the film presents an ambitious genre mix but is described as struggling to establish a clear narrative direction. Despite a large budget, elaborate sets and an ensemble cast, the review notes that the execution does not consistently align with the film’s intended themes.
The story follows Raja, played by Prabhas, who believes the claim of his grandmother Gangamma, portrayed by Zarina Wahab, that her husband Kankaraju, played by Sanjay Dutt, is still alive. Acting on this belief, Raja travels to an old mansion in Hyderabad, where the narrative introduces elements involving spirits, occult practices and revelations connected to the past.
The review states that while the central idea is presented as engaging, the on-screen treatment is described as uneven. The film is said to move between emotional drama, comedy and horror without maintaining tonal consistency, with several sequences noted as having limited connection to the overall plot.
On performances, the review highlights Sanjay Dutt’s role as a key strength, describing his character as mysterious and psychologically layered. Boman Irani is noted for making an impact in limited screen time, while Zarina Wahab’s portrayal of the grandmother is described as restrained and emotionally grounded. The review observes that the characters played by Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar have limited narrative influence.
Regarding direction and technical aspects, the review identifies challenges in balancing multiple genres. It states that the background score and songs interrupt narrative flow, while extensive use of visual effects and green screen is noted. Editing is also cited as contributing to the film’s extended runtime.
The review assigns the film a rating of 2 out of 5 and characterises ‘The Raja Saab’ as a project with scale and recognised talent that, in the assessment presented, does not fully translate its concept into a cohesive cinematic experience.
