What is the story about?
Prabhas’ The Raja Saab elicited varied responses from viewers. A significant portion of the audience expressed disappointment over the exclusion of a crucial
scene. The total duration of the horror-comedy stands at 189 minutes. In response to fan requests, the filmmakers have reinstated the deleted scene in the final theatrical versions. The updated edition of The Raja Saab became available in cinemas starting Saturday evening. The production company confirmed this decision via social media. The producer indicated that this addition would not extend the film's runtime. Director Maruthi also commented on the matter.
The Raja Saab deleted scene
The omitted scene showcases Prabhas dressed as an elderly man, likely inhabited by the spirit of his deceased grandfather, Kanakaraja (Sanjay Dutt). This sequence, eagerly anticipated by fans, was not included in the original theatrical release. Nevertheless, fans took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction.
Director Maruthi's remarks
Following the release of The Raja Saab, director Maruthi stated that the new scene would be incorporated into screenings starting at 6 PM today (January 10). During a press conference, he remarked, “Prabhas fans are not unhappy with the film, but they are not fully content either. This is because we showcased him in an elderly disguise in the trailer with a certain flair. In the quest for that appearance, the audience struggled to grasp the narrative I was presenting.”
He continued, “With that in mind, I spent last evening refining the second half of the film and adding the missing scenes for the 6 PM show today. I am confident that the 8-9 minute segment will be spectacular. No film has portrayed a rooftop fight scene like this before. Prabhas put in a tremendous amount of effort for it.”
Reason for the scene's removal
Producer TG Vishwa Prasad explained, “There’s a 4-minute segment featuring Prabhas in his elderly guise that was left out of the film. A week ago, due to an unfortunate incident and server issues, we had the output, but it required some cleanup and minor adjustments. We have completed that and sent it to theaters now.”
The Raja Saab review
In a review of The Raja Saab, Times Now’s in-house critic stated, “The Raja Saab runs for 3 hours and 3 minutes, presenting a chaotic, campy horror-comedy. The horror fails to impress, and the comedy falls flat. The film has been in production for three years, yet the final product is subpar and unconvincing. Director Maruthi overdoes the execution, even with a flimsy script. A grand entrance for Raja Saab does not justify the character's actions and dialogue. Maruthi tries to establish a foundation for a horror-comedy with elements like a black cat, a crumbling mansion, flickering lights, an eerie score, and a vast house filled with more secrets than rooms. While the intention is commendable, the effect is negligible.”
The Raja Saab also features Zarina Wahab, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar. It was released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam on January 9.
