1. Introduction (The Hook) The wait is finally over! Rebel Star Prabhas returns to the big screen today with director Maruthi’s horror-comedy, The Raja Saab. After the heavy action of Salaar and Kalki, fans were eager to see “Darling” Prabhas in a fun, vintage avatar. But does the film deliver the Sankranti magic it promised? Let’s dive into the first-day public talk and box office reports.
2. The Plot (No Spoilers) The story follows Raja (Prabhas), who visits an ancient, haunted mansion to uncover his family’s secrets. He soon finds himself caught between a greedy past and a supernatural present involving Kanakaraju (played by a menacing Sanjay Dutt).
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Prabhas’ Energy: This is the most “fun” Prabhas has looked in years. His comedy timing and screen presence are the heart of the movie.
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The Climax: The last 30 minutes are being hailed as the film’s USP—power-packed and visually grand.
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Thaman’s BGM: While the songs are getting mixed reactions, the background score elevates the horror scenes.
4. What Doesn’t Work (The Negatives)
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Runtime: At 3 hours and 10 minutes, many critics feel the movie is “too long” and “tedious.”
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VFX Issues: Some scenes look like “green-screen disasters” with inconsistent graphics (the CGI crocodile scene is already being trolled).
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Weak Screenplay: The transition between horror and comedy feels disjointed in the second half.
5. Box Office Collection Day 1 Early estimates from Sacnilk suggest The Raja Saab has earned a massive ₹45–50 Crore Net in India on Day 1 across all languages. Despite mixed reviews, Prabhas’ stardom is ensuring a “King Size” opening.
The estimated budget for The Raja Saab is reported to be around ₹400 Crore.
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Total Budget: ₹400–450 Crore.
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Prabhas’ Fee: Approximately ₹100 Crore (Reportedly took a pay cut from his usual ₹150 Cr to support the production quality).
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Production & VFX: The film is visually heavy with horror elements, which took up a huge chunk of the remaining budget.
6. Final Verdict The Raja Saab is strictly for Prabhas fans. If you want to see your favorite star in a “Vintage Darling” look with some spooky fun, go for it. If you’re looking for a tight horror-thriller, you might find the 3-hour length a struggle.
