Davey Jones And Xerxes In The Raja Saab Teaser, When Shoddy VFX Destroyed A Bollywood Icon

The teaser for The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt, has finally dropped — and unfortunately, it’s a massive letdown. While the film promised a supernatural horror thriller with a comedic twist, Sanjay Dutt’s character, meant to be the menacing evil force, instead comes off as a laughable patchwork of clichéd Hollywood villainy.

One particularly baffling moment features Sanjay playing the piano — a trope Indian cinema rarely pulls off successfully. The attempt looks less like original filmmaking and more like a poor imitation of Davey Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean, with the whole concept seemingly copied and given a low-budget Indian makeover. It’s ridiculous and completely fails to evoke any kind of fear or intrigue.

Another avatar flaunts gaudy jewelry and ostentatious costumes that scream King Xerxes from 300 — only without the finesse or grandeur. The character design reeks of lazy copying, lacking any authenticity or innovation. The VFX and special effects add insult to injury, looking shoddy and outdated in an era when audiences expect cutting-edge visuals — especially after Prabhas’s last outing Kalki 2898 AD, which dazzled viewers with unprecedented effects.

The Raja Saab teaser has triggered widespread backlash, with fans and critics alike expressing disappointment over the uninspired character building and lackluster production values. If this is just the beginning, the film’s makers and their PR teams have a Herculean task ahead to convince audiences that the final product will be worth watching.

Directed and written by Maruthi, and produced by People Media Factory and IVY Entertainment, The Raja Saab also features Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar. With music composed by Thaman S, cinematography by Karthik Palani, and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao, the film has the technical talent — but that’s clearly not translating on screen.

Scheduled for release on December 5, 2025, The Raja Saab currently risks becoming an example of squandered potential, where star power and technical expertise are wasted on uninspired storytelling and embarrassing visuals.