Prabhas’ ‘The Raja Saab’ premiere in Hyderabad turns chaotic over delay

Prabhas’ much-anticipated film ‘The Raja Saab’ ran into unexpected trouble in several theatres in Hyderabad. The premiere shows of the film were slated to begin at 9 pm on Wednesday, January 8, across Andhra Pradesh; however, there were delays in multiple centers due to permission issues. Movie buffs who were eager to catch the show at 9 pm were irked by the delay and lack of clarity on when the show would begin. The lack of clear communication on the status of the shows left fans frustrated, and the crowd began to swell. At Vimal Theatres in Hyderabad, the situation worsened and turned chaotic. Large numbers of people started gathering outside, following the staff's failure to provide clarity on the status of shows. In the videos that are going viral on the internet, one can see a group of people barging into the theatre during the media premiere of ‘The Raja Saab’ and created ruckus. They refused to leave the theatre's premises and demanded a screening.Directed and written by Maruthi, ‘The Raja Saab’ features Prabhas in the lead role. Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani have roped in to play pivotal roles in the film. Actors Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, and veteran Zarina Wahab are also part of the film. The horror comedy received mixed responses on the first day of release. TOI has ranked the film 2.5, and the review reads, "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.