Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab has opened to mixed to negative reviews on X as the fantasy-horror comedy hit theatres today after much anticipation. While the movie opened to packed theatres, celebratory screenings and much fanfare across multiple cities, early reviews from X (formerly Twitter) painted a drastically different picture.
Starring Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan (in her Telugu film debut), Riddhi Kumar and Zarina Wahab, the film’s plot revolves around a man who – while searching for his missing grandfather – ends up encountering a sinister entity and uncovering disturbing secrets. The movie was directed by Maruthi and produced by People Media Factory and IVY Entertainment.
What netizens are saying about the movie
While excitement for The Raja Saab was palpable and it received positive reviews from overseas screenings, the Indian reaction was slightly different than expected – leading to a damper on celebrations for the film. Netizens took to X to express their opinions and so far the reviews have ranged from mixed to negative.
One scathing review on X which lashed into the movie, but praised Prabhas for his effort read, “Movie Review – The Raja Saab 1.5*/5. The Raja Saab is a Royal Disaster Absolute Embarrassment…This isn’t a film, it’s a loud, lazy waste of time that mistakes noise for cinema and scale for substance. The script feels AI-generated, no soul just endless scenes stitched together…Let’s be clear, this is NOT on Prabhas. The man shows up but the film doesn’t. He’s trapped in a clueless mess that neither understands his stardom nor gives him anything worth performing…”
Another X user criticising the direction posted, “at a bloated runtime of 189 minutes, #RajaSaab proves to be an arduous watch rather than the entertainer. Despite Prabhas’s star power, the film collapses under the weight of a incoherent screenplay and lackluster direction.”
The film’s special effects and first half also came under fire as they were criticised for being shoddy. “#TheRajaSaab Below Par 1st Half! Prabhas’s energy is the only mainstay so far. The rest is filled with outdated commercial elements that do not work. Some VFX shots, especially of Prabhas, look poor. It gets somewhat interesting only from the pre-interval,” said a reviewer on X.
Strong financial start despite mixed reviews
Regardless of the divided opinions online, The Raja Saab has entered the market with massive financial momentum. According to reports from Sacnilk and The Indian Express, the film crossed the Rs 50 crore mark in worldwide pre-sales for its opening day, with North American premieres alone contributing over $1.3 million (approx. Rs 11 crore). The film also benefited from significant non-theatrical deals; Deccan Chronicle reported that JioHotstar secured the digital streaming rights in a deal estimated at Rs 160 crore – a record for a Telugu film in the current market.
The theatrical business is equally high-stakes, with the worldwide theatrical rights valued at approximately Rs 250 crore, as noted by Box Office Andhra. In the domestic circuit, the film received a boost when the Telangana High Court and the Andhra Pradesh government allowed ticket price hikes for the opening week. Furthermore, the last-minute postponement of Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan handed The Raja Saab an additional 250 screens in Tamil Nadu, giving it a clear run during the lucrative Sankranti holiday window.