The Times of India
TNN, Jan 09, 2026, 5:45 PM IST
2.5
The film centres on Raja Saab (Prabhas), a flamboyant and carefree young man whose life revolves around pleasure, charm and living in the moment. With little interest in legacy or responsibility, he is unexpectedly drawn back to a sprawling ancestral property where the past refuses to remain buried. As romance, inheritance and unsettling occurrences collide within this vast estate, what begins as a lighthearted setup gradually shifts into a genre-mixing narrative that attempts to blend humour, fantasy and an eerie undercurrent. While the idea is intriguing, the tonal transition is not always smooth, occasionally leaving the film caught between moods rather than confidently straddling them.Director Maruthi approaches the film as a full-scale theatrical entertainer, leaning heavily into colour, elaborate production design and star-centric moments. The intent to create a visually rich big-screen experience is clear, and several sequences benefit from this emphasis on scale and spectacle. However, the storytelling frequently prioritises visual indulgence over narrative progression. The tone swings between playful comedy and spooky fantasy, but the balance proves difficult to sustain, with multiple stretches lingering longer than necessary. While the stylised approach has its moments of appeal, it rarely pushes beyond familiar territory, relying instead on well-worn beats.Prabhas appears comfortable in the role, embracing a lighter, flamboyant persona with relaxed confidence. His screen presence, timing and easy charm remain the film’s biggest draw, and fans are likely to enjoy watching him inhabit a space designed to foreground swagger over emotional intensity. That said, the film’s frequent pauses to spotlight star moments occasionally come at the cost of narrative momentum, making certain portions feel drawn out rather than impactful.While the lead carries the film largely on presence, the performances around him vary in impact. Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar and Nidhhi Agerwal deliver competent performances but are constrained by limited characterisation, functioning more as narrative anchors than fully developed roles. Veteran actors Boman Irani, Sanjay Dutt and Zarina Wahab lend gravitas and authority to their parts, though the screenplay does not fully capitalise on their presence, keeping their arcs within familiar boundaries.On the technical front, this film ranks among Maruthi’s more ambitious ventures. The production design is striking, with sets that feel both grand and deliberately unsettling, lending the film a distinctive visual identity. The background score effectively amplifies mood and scale, enhancing both the playful and suspenseful moments. However, the final act stretches excessively, with prolonged sequences dulling what should have been a sharper, more decisive payoff and significantly affecting pacing.The film’s attempt to explore a genre rarely touched in mainstream Telugu cinema is commendable, and its fantasy-driven concept holds promise. Yet, the loose screenplay and execution prevent it from reaching its full potential. Raja Saab clearly understands its star-driven intent, but a tighter narrative and stronger dramatic focus might have elevated it beyond a visually engaging yet inconsistent spectacle.— Sanjana Pulugurtha
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