'The Raja Saab' Teaser: The Prabhas-led film operates on a scale like never before

The much-anticipated teaser of The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas in the lead role, has finally dropped, but instead of creating excitement, it seems to have triggered collective disappointment. Directed by Maruthi, known for films like Bhale Bhale Magadivoy and Mahanubhavudu, this horror-comedy was expected to showcase Prabhas in a refreshing avatar. Unfortunately, the teaser paints a very different picture.

Set in a sprawling haunted haveli, the teaser introduces a story involving ghosts, ghouls, and hidden treasure guarded by a long-dead royal spirit. On paper, it sounds like an entertaining mix of humour and horror. But in execution, the teaser feels more like a blast from the past, in the worst way possible.

The visuals are over-the-top, with dated CGI that resembles early 2000s television horror shows. The ghosts lack menace, the colour grading is uninspired, and the production quality seems nowhere near the standard one would expect from a Prabhas-starrer.

Prabhas, who plays a lighthearted, romantic lead entangled in supernatural chaos, appears completely out of sync with the tone. His comic timing feels off, and the one-liners fall flat instead of landing laughs.

Whether it’s the awkward body language or the expressionless delivery, this just doesn’t seem like the Prabhas audiences have rooted for in the past. He tries to channel a ghostbuster vibe reminiscent of Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa stint, but sadly, the charm doesn’t translate.

Malavika Mohanan, however, makes a stronger impression. Her screen presence offers some relief. But even she cannot salvage the teaser’s most glaring issue, there’s barely any believable chemistry between her and Prabhas. The romantic angle feels undercooked and misplaced in the middle of the chaos.

The online reactions have been equally brutal. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), fans have expressed their shock and disappointment, calling the teaser “cringe,” “outdated,” and “a visual mess.” Some even went as far as to say that Prabhas looks unrecognisable with “no expression, no acting, and zero appeal.”

With The Raja Saab, what should have been a quirky genre experiment for Prabhas is already being dubbed a misfire by many. If the teaser is anything to go by, this could further dent the star’s already fragile post-Baahubali filmography. Whether the final film proves otherwise remains to be seen, but the teaser has certainly left a bitter aftertaste.

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