Director Maruthi says he is extremely happy that The Raja Saab is connecting with audiences from all sections and that people are enjoying seeing Prabhas in a completely new avatar.
Emerging as the biggest Sankranthi blockbuster in Tollywood, The Raja Saab has crossed a massive ₹201 crore gross worldwide within just four days of its release. The film is drawing strong family audiences, with children and elders equally enjoying it. Prabhas’ versatile performance, Maruthi’s unique approach to the horror-fantasy genre, and the grand production values by People Media Factory have played a key role in the film’s success.
Sharing his thoughts, Maruthi said the love the film is receiving is truly satisfying. Crossing ₹200 crore even before the main Sankranthi holidays began is a big achievement, and it clearly shows that audiences are enjoying the film. He believes the festive season will further boost collections. Since the film blends fantasy with psychological elements, he expected that it might take some time for audiences to fully connect. Prabhas had reassured him early on, saying that trying something new always takes time to settle. After certain additions, especially the old-getup scenes, everything seemed to fall perfectly into place.
Maruthi explained that while audiences may have expected a lighter festive entertainer, the film takes a psychological turn with the entry of Boman Irani’s character. Some viewers initially found those portions a little complex. He said that making a simple horror-comedy with a star like Prabhas would have been easy, but he wanted to attempt something different. That’s why the film was designed with deeper fantasy and psychological layers and mounted on a large scale. He also mentioned that in today’s social-media-driven world, there’s no point in hiding feedback, which is why he spoke openly about the responses right from day two.
According to Maruthi, audiences are now truly enjoying the film and are personally messaging him with positive feedback. He believes that during the first watch, viewers look for familiar elements, but on repeat viewings, the depth of certain scenes becomes clearer. He said portraying subconscious emotions and trance-like states visually is very challenging. Prabhas put in tremendous effort, especially for the old-getup and reverse scenes, spending days thinking about how to perform them. Even the smallest expressions, like his subtle smile in the Joker scene, were carefully crafted.
Maruthi also shared his gratitude towards Prabhas’ fans, calling them like family. Many fans appreciated seeing Prabhas in colourful songs, dance sequences, and a refreshing presentation. Several filmmakers from the industry, including Nag Ashwin and Sandeep Reddy Vanga, personally congratulated him and supported the film.
He added that staying mentally strong throughout the process was important for him. His biggest concern before release was ensuring the film released on time, which is why he appeared tired during pre-release promotions. He said social media criticism is unavoidable today, but what truly matters is that audiences are coming to theatres and enjoying the film. Delivering the film on time was his responsibility, and he stayed focused on that.
The strong box-office numbers, including packed shows in B and C centres, prove that audiences have accepted Prabhas in a new genre, Maruthi said. He intentionally kept the hero’s introduction simple and avoided predictable mass elements in the climax. Instead of routine action sequences, he wanted to offer something fresh. The film also helped him grow technically, especially in handling CG work. He mentioned that while some of his earlier films were written quickly, The Raja Saab required months of planning for certain key scenes.
At present, Maruthi says The Raja Saab occupies his entire mind and heart. He added that directing Chiranjeevi garu someday would feel like completing a life-long dream, as he is a huge fan of the legendary actor. With audiences enjoying the film, Maruthi says he is celebrating Sankranthi peacefully and happily, wishing everyone a joyful festive season.
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