The Raja Saab was touted as one of the biggest films of the year releasing in Pongal. Starring Baahubali star Prabhas and marking his first foray into the horror genre, the film generated massive anticipation among fans eager to see the actor in a new avatar. However, the final product left many viewers feeling disappointed and even cheated. While some audiences criticised the frequent use of body doubles—even in relatively simple shots—others took issue with what they described as a poorly written, unintentionally comic script that fell far short of fan expectations. Now, director Maruthi has suggested that the film’s lukewarm reception stems from audiences failing to understand its deeper intent. After addressing the use of the word “flop” during a press conference on the film’s second day—held to celebrate its grand opening—Maruthi shared a note stating that viewers watched the film “in a festive mood,” which, according to him, prevented them from engaging with the film’s layered narrative. He wrote, “Audiences watch a film for about three hours on screen, but it is the …