Prabhas’ The Raja Saab recently landed on OTT after flopping in theatres and was torn apart by viewers, with most of the trolling aimed squarely at director Maruthi. OTT audiences brutally exposed poor VFX, sloppy face swaps, overuse of body doubles, and cringe comedy. Social media is flooded with clips mocking how Prabhas is barely present in many scenes, turning the film into unintentional comedy. Fans openly questioned Maruthi’s intent and accused him of reducing a superstar to troll material. Even loyal fans admitted the trolling is valid this time. Compared to its theatrical response, the OTT backlash is far harsher, turning Raja Saab as a huge embarrassment driven by Maruthi’s execution.
Now there are reports that Maruthi is already getting ready for his next project. A producer reportedly is ready to make a film with director Maruthi. At present, Maruthi is in Kerala, and once he returns, detailed story discussions will begin. According to inside sources, the producer is confident about backing Maruthi again, despite the disastrous response to Raja Saab. Maybe the producer feels Maruthi still holds value in the industry, especially when it comes to commercial and family-oriented storytelling made on a limited budget.
There is strong talk that this upcoming project might feature Sai Dharam Tej as the lead actor. However, this combination is not confirmed yet. If the project with Sai Dharam Tej does not materialize for any reason, the makers will move ahead with another mid-range hero. They do not plan to wait endlessly for a star hero. Also, no big hero would trust Maruthi after what happened with Raja Saab.
If Maruthi clearly understands his strengths and limitations and moves forward accordingly, achieving success again is not impossible at all. Maruthi has proven in the past that he can connect strongly with audiences when he works within his comfort zone. His real strength lies in telling simple stories filled with clean comedy and relatable emotions. If he chooses a story that naturally blends humor with emotional depth, he still has some chance of delivering a success. However, things are easier said than done.
