The Raja Saab Movie Review (2026): Finally, after a lot of anticipation, Prabhas’ “The Raja Saab” has been released. The film tries to weave together the dark threads of a supernatural thriller with the light-hearted pulse of a horror comedy. It has Prabhas as a lead, who has balanced legacy with modern-day peril, and the movie takes audiences on a journey through generational secrets, mind control, and high-octane action.
Baapofmovies.com Rating: 3/5
- Release Date: January 9, 2026
- Director & Writer: Maruthi
- Producers: TG Vishwa Prasad, & Krithi Prasad
- Stars: Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan (Telugu film debut), Riddhi Kumar and Zarina Wahab
- Music: Thaman S
- DOP: Karthik Palani
- Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
- Runtime: 189 Minutes (3 hrs 9 min)
- Banners: People Media Factory & IVY Entertainment
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The Raja Saab Plot: A Legacy of Deception
The story of The Raja Saab takes us to a past filled with wealth and betrayal. It begins with the character played by Sanjay Dutt, who marries a wealthy queen, who is Prabhas’s grandmother, just for her immense fortune. Moreover, he used the dark art of hypnosis to manipulate her to seize her riches and retreat to a secluded palace atop a mountain.
In the present day, the grandmother remains unaware of her husband’s true nature, believing someone else robbed her because she was under his hypnotic spell. Meanwhile, the antagonist (Sanjay Dutt) continues his dark practices, abducting and killing people within the palace through further hypnosis. Prabhas’s entanglement with the palace intensifies the plot. To defeat the villain, Prabhas takes the help of the art that is used against his family, and he hypnotizes the hypnotist to break the cycle of violence. Though the attempt was very good, at times it feels very unnatural and doesn’t resonate with the real-life matter.
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Cast Performances
- Prabhas: He has done a good job to deliver a grounded performance as he uncovers his family’s dark history and moves from a victim of circumstance to a master of psychological warfare.
- Sanjay Dutt: He is in the role of a chilling and manipulative antagonist. He used his screen presence to sell the menacing nature of the “grandfather” character but lacked the “Original Sanjay Dutt” energy.
- Supporting Cast: Apart from them, the film has three female leads in the form of Malavika Mohanan (Bhairavi), Riddhi Kumar (Anitha), and Zarina Wahab (Grandmother), who contribute to the narrative. The grandmother’s character serves as the emotional and historical anchor of the story; the rest of the female leads are either unexplored or don’t have much impact.
Positive and Negative Aspects
Plus Points: Visuals and Vibe
- Climax Action: The final showdown is a visual highlight, as it is loaded with intense sequences that include a crocodile, which showcases impressive VFX.
- Technical Merit: The film is bolstered by S. Thaman‘s strong background music (BGM) score and Karthik Palani‘s high-quality cinematography, and it works rightly to enhance the eerie atmosphere of the mountain palace.
- Genre Blending: The “horror-comedy” moments are well-executed, as they collaboratively provide a necessary levity between the more intense supernatural segments.
- Music: The soundtrack is decent too, and it must be noted as a positive highlight, as it adds to the film’s overall entertainment value.
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Minus Points: Pacing and Complexity
While the central hook of “hypnosis vs. hypnosis” is unique, the mechanics of ‘The Raja Saab’ plot by Maruthi are slightly repetitive. Additionally, the transition between the historical backstory and the modern-day horror elements could have been better because it occasionally feels jarring for those expecting a more straightforward action film.
Baap of Movies Final Verdict
All in all, The Raja Saab is a solid entertainer, as it successfully bridges the gap between a psychological thriller and a commercial potboiler. The film is loaded with very strong visual effects, memorable BGM, and a unique take on family betrayal. Overall, The Raja Saab offers a fresh experience for fans of the genre, but it has some notable flaws that cannot be neglected.
Watch The Raja Saab Trailer
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