The Raja Saab is gearing up for a grand Sankranthi release, and the hype is not that great, which is unexpected from a Prabhas film coming after a long gap.
The trailer received average response, and the songs didn't click till now.
Directed by Maruthi, the film falls in the horror comedy genre, which is trying to create curiosity as it marks a clear shift from the large-scale action dramas Prabhas has been doing in recent years. Fans hope this film will work big time because it is expected to be a full-length commercial entertainer from Prabhas after a long gap.
According to industry updates, the film has reached the final stages of post-production, with censor formalities in all languages expected to be completed before Christmas. Insider reports say Prabhas is satisfied with the film, and this confidence is reportedly why he may actively participate in some of the promotions.
The most talked about aspect right now is the runtime. As per inside information, the censor copy reportedly runs for around 3 hours and 15 minutes. This has sparked both excitement and concern among audiences and trade circles.
Horror comedies usually work best when they are crisp and fast paced. Comedy relies on timing, and horror needs sustained tension. A three-hour runtime is more common for epic action dramas like Baahubali, RRR, or Salaar, where scale justifies the length.
Applying a similar duration to a commercial entertainer like The Raja Saab is a bold choice. Maruthi has been going through a bad phase where his movies, even with a two-hour runtime, have not been able to engage the audience. So, there are doubts among a section of the audience about whether Maruthi can make viewers sit through a three-hour film.
That said, the long runtime also indicates strong confidence from director Maruthi in his story. If the screenplay remains engaging and avoids lag, the duration may not feel heavy. Ultimately, if the content connects, runtime will not matter as we have seen with Dhurandhar, which was more than 210 minutes long but worked tremendously with the audience.
With Prabhas's screen presence, interesting narration, and Maruthi's comic sensibilities, the film could still feel engaging throughout. The real verdict will come once audiences experience it on the big screen.