The much-anticipated horror comedy film starring Prabhas, 'The Raja Saab', has secured its censor certificate after making specific modifications mandated by India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board has granted the film a U/A 16+ certificate, clearing its path for a theatrical release on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranthi festival.
CBFC Directives Lead to Key Modifications
According to reports, the CBFC issued a list of required cuts and changes to the film's makers on December 24, 2025. The final certified runtime of the movie is 189 minutes (3 hours and 9 minutes). The certification process involved two significant visual alterations to tone down the film's graphic content.
The first modification concerned a gory scene showing blood on the floor. The makers complied with the board's directive by converting the originally 35-second-long sequence into monochrome (black and white), thereby reducing its visceral impact.
Beheading Scene Shortened and Edited
The second and more notable edit was applied to a scene depicting a beheading. The CBFC found the clear visuals of the act too intense for a broader audience. In response, the production team shortened the scene by four seconds and altered its presentation. Instead of a continuous shot, the beheading is now shown through quick flashes on the screen, making it less explicit.
Apart from these visual cuts, the board also recommended adjustments to the film's Audio Description (AD) and Closed Captioning (CC) tracks to meet accessibility standards.
Star-Studded Cast and Pan-India Release
'The Raja Saab' is directed and written by Maruthi and produced by People Media Factory and IVY Entertainment. The film features a prominent ensemble cast including Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Boman Irani alongside Prabhas.
Positioned for a major pan-India release, the movie will be available to audiences in multiple languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Sankranthi Box Office Clash Ahead
The release of 'The Raja Saab' sets the stage for a significant box office clash during the Sankranthi holiday period. It will directly compete with the theatrical release of superstar Vijay's final film, 'Jana Nayagan', on the same day.
The festive week will also see the release of other major films such as Sivakarthikeyan's 'Parasakthi', Chiranjeevi's 'Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu', and Naveen Polishetty's 'Anaganaga Oka Raju', making it one of the most crowded and competitive release windows of the year.
