We live in an era of international cinema and high-end streaming shows. We see the directions global cinema is taking, and then we see... this. It might sound like a joke, but think about it seriously: Where are we heading?
The "Horror Comedy" Paradox
Is it horror? Is it comedy? Well, it’s a horror film in the sense that you’ll be frightened by the filmmaking itself. It’s a comedy because, after three hours, you’ll look in the mirror and laugh at your own face for buying a ticket.
And let’s talk about that ticket. The base price is $25, climbing to $38 for IMAX or D-Box. If you spend that kind of money on a movie with zero substance, you aren’t just watching a film; you’re being ruined.
The "Set" Problem: Artificial vs. Organic
Every time I hear this production house's name, I get annoyed. Why? Because it’s all "set, set, set."
Whether it's cost-cutting or a lack of creativity, the artificiality is glaring. The hero’s house is clearly Ramoji Film City disguised as Hyderabad. Nidhi Agarwal’s intro shot looks cheaper than a modern TV commercial. When the hero drives an auto-rickshaw past the heroine, you can practically see the studio walls.
Compare this to the Dhoom series or other recent films that travel to actual locations to give the story breath. Even movies that build sets to mimic foreign countries (like Pakistan) usually do it with such craft that you don't doubt it for a second. Raja Saab feels like they just threw a palace set together and called it a day.
The Writing: An "Injustice" to the Audience
I don’t know how Director Maruthi was convinced by this. Look at his old films and then look at this. The writing is, frankly, unfair.
Take the three heroines, for example. Why are they even there?
Heroine 1: Owes 15 lakhs.
Heroine 2: Cheated out of 2 lakhs.
Heroine 3: Promised one crore.
That’s the "organic" link? Everyone is just chasing money? They follow the hero around like debt collectors. It’s lazy. If you want three heroines, involve them in the plot! This kind of writing deserves a "matriculation award" because it feels like it was written in primary school.
The Prabhas Factor
People keep saying, "Prabhas is back," but let’s be real—he’s not in the Darling or Mirchi zone anymore. While his emotional sequences still carry some weight, the comedy timing just isn't landing.
And we have to talk about the look. For a movie costing hundreds of crores, why does the styling feel so unnatural? Between the hair patches and the awkwardly shaped beard, the close-ups become distracting rather than engaging. We saw these same technical issues in Saaho, and it’s disappointing to see them repeated here.
Final Thoughts
If this film had been made with proper substance and organic locations, it could have earned thousands of crores. Instead, we got a dull, artificial experience that feels stuck in the Chandramukhi era of 20 years ago.
My verdict: Save your $38.