Prabhas' Horror Comedy 'The Raja Saab' Experiences Sharp Box Office Slowdown
The much-anticipated Prabhas starrer horror comedy film 'The Raja Saab' is witnessing a significant deceleration in its box office performance as it enters its second week. The film's momentum has slowed considerably, with collections showing a marked decline from earlier figures.
Day 12 Collections Show Minimal Growth
On its twelfth day in theaters, 'The Raja Saab' managed to earn approximately Rs 80 lakhs India net across all language versions. This represents a very modest increase from previous days, indicating that the film's box office run is losing steam. The total India net collection has now reached Rs 141.50 crores, with the first eleven days contributing about Rs 140.70 crores of this amount.
The film's performance on Day 11 had already shown signs of weakening, with collections reported at Rs 1.35 crores according to industry tracking website Sacnilk. This included Rs 1 crore from the Telugu version and Rs 35 lakhs from the Hindi version. The subsequent day saw further deterioration, with Telugu collections dropping to Rs 50 lakhs and Hindi collections falling to Rs 30 lakhs.
Telugu Version Carries the Film's Weight
Analysis of the language-wise breakdown reveals that the Telugu version is single-handedly sustaining the film's box office presence. Out of the total Rs 141.5 crores India net collection, the Telugu version has contributed a substantial Rs 115.98 crores. In comparison, the Hindi version has collected Rs 23.81 crores to date.
Collections from other regional language versions remain minimal:
- Tamil version: Rs 1.09 crores
- Kannada version: Rs 39 lakhs
- Malayalam version: Rs 23 lakhs
Worldwide Figures and Theater Occupancy Concerns
After twelve days of theatrical run, 'The Raja Saab' has achieved a worldwide collection of Rs 203 crores. Overseas markets have contributed Rs 34 crores to this total, while the India gross collection stands at Rs 169 crores.
The theater occupancy numbers paint a concerning picture of the film's current appeal. On Day 12, the overall Telugu occupancy was recorded at just 16.61 percent, with specific show timings showing:
- Morning shows: 17.14 percent
- Afternoon shows: 16.36 percent
- Evening shows: 17.23 percent
- Night shows: 15.71 percent
The Hindi occupancy figures were even more troubling, with an overall occupancy of only 8.10 percent on Tuesday. The breakdown by show timings reveals:
- Morning shows: 5.31 percent
- Afternoon shows: 7.57 percent
- Evening shows: 8.87 percent
- Night shows: 10.63 percent
These low occupancy rates indicate that most theater seats remain empty during screenings, suggesting limited audience interest in the film's second week.
Cast Insights and Production Details
Actress Malavika Mohanan, who plays a significant role in the film, previously shared her reasons for joining the project. In an interview with India Today, she expressed her appreciation for the Telugu language, stating she always liked "the phonetics of how Telugu sounds."
Regarding her decision to accept the role, Mohanan explained: "I love the fact that: A. It was a genre [horror comedy] that I hadn't been a part of, which I was excited about, and B. In most films, especially as the hero gets bigger, the smaller the role gets for the woman. But, it wasn't the case with The Raja Saab."
She further elaborated on her character's significance: "In the film, the girl is pretty much there throughout. She has a very good role and some really cool scenes. And, it's so rare to get something like that in a film as massive as this. I loved the character, and the director Maruthi is extremely sweet."
Mohanan also revealed her admiration for lead actor Prabhas, stating: "Everything just seemed to fall into place in the right way, and I always wanted to work with Prabhas. I am the biggest Baahubali fan."
'The Raja Saab' is directed by Maruthi and features an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani, and Riddhi Kumar in prominent roles. The film represents an interesting departure into the horror comedy genre for Prabhas, who has previously dominated the Indian box office with epic action dramas.
The current box office trends suggest that while the film enjoyed a strong opening, it is struggling to maintain audience interest beyond its initial run. Industry observers will be watching closely to see if the film can stabilize its collections in the coming days or if the decline will continue.
