Movie: Khaleja
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sri Kanakaratna Movies
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Anushka, Prakashraj, Rao Ramesh, Shafi, Ali, Sunil, Brahmi, Subbaraju, Tanikella, Raghu Babu, M S Narayana, Dharmavarapu, Amit, Veda etc
Music: Mani Sharmaa
Cinematography: Yash Bhatt, Sunil Patel
Editing: Sreekar Prasad
Story, screenplay, direction, dialogues: Trivikram Srinivas
Producers: Singanamala Ramesh, C Kalyan
Release date: 07/10/2010
Mahesh Babu is back after a hiatus and the expectations have been high on this ‘Khaleja’. Given the title controversy, the mileage was sufficient.
Story
Sitarama Raju (Mahesh) is a taxi driver who comes to Rajasthan searching for a person’s family. He chances upon Gemini TV person (Sunil) and reveals his story of coming there.
This also includes his encounters with Subhashini (Anushka) whose presence brings in bad luck and loss. On the other hand, there is Siddhappa (Shafi) who is sent by his guru (Rao Ramesh) in search of a god sent man who can protect the village from a death threat and extinction.
One thing happens after the other and Sitarama Raju comes across Siddhappa who believes that Raju is the man. Meanwhile, Subhashini’s father (Tanikella) is planning to get her engaged to the son of GK (Prakashraj) who has got a motive behind it. How are all these people connected and what happens after that forms the rest of the story.
Performances
Mahesh Babu is a complete show stealer in the film. He is highly energetic and his dialogue delivery stands apart. Unlike his regular mild approach with one liners, he rolls out flurry of words and entertains. As for his looks, he is handsome as ever and has made his presence felt strongly.
Anushka looks gorgeous and special focus has been made on her legs when it comes to dialogues. Her screen chemistry with Mahesh was neat and not much of a skin show from her this time.
Prakashraj was brief and he did his bit as required. Perhaps the etching of his character should have been more powerful. That would have given strength to the villain image and good climax.
The comedy track of Ali, Sunil gave few laughs. Brahmi was funny at few places, Tanikella was elegant, Subbaraju made his presence felt, Rao Ramesh was excellent, Shafi was impressive, Dharmavarapu and M S were brief. The others did their bit as required.
Analysis:
“One who lives for his own self is considered to be dead. One who lives for others with unselfishness and love live forever” – Swami Vivekananda
This is the crux of the movie that knocks the doors of every heart.
- How GK (Prakash Raj) leads his life with selfishness and how he breathes his last with pain and grief.
- How the villager Sidhdhappa (Shafi) holds faith in God and dies a painless death with pride filled eyes.
- How Raju (Mahesh) manifests God in himself with unselfishness and true love for others.
The above three aspects build the ulterior message in the film. There is a symbolic scene of man’s connection with God which holds conviction. When our hero asks for Rs 10 for himself, his wish will not be fulfilled. And when he asks the same Rs 10 with a wish to feed a hungry boy, the donor gives him Rs 100 and goes. Only unselfishness can see the bountiful God. Mahesh Babu says in a dialogue here, “I understood God. He is not hiding anywhere. He is there in every heart. He fulfils wishes only when asked for the well being of others. What the hell Rs 100 when asked for Rs 10…he will shower even lakhs and crores”. This message is packaged and delivered with all commercial elements.
The interesting part of the film is that hero never fights for his selfish possessiveness on heroine. He never fights to gain supremacy on villains. He fights only for the lives of others. Hence he becomes God.
But how Trivikram dealt his narration in bringing this story on to celluloid? How the aspects those really matter for the success of the movie are placed? The music is good but only ‘sada siva sanyasi…’ is truly hitting the senses of audiences. That number takes position-1 among all the songs. ‘Makathika maya maschindra..’ is ok to some extent. The song on Lord Krishna sounds good. Others are mundane. Background score is average.
First half is dealt with humor and the actual story starts only after 1 and half hours. Mahesh Babu made the movie hilarious with his typical dialogue delivery never seen before. Second half has some real material. Humor element continues here as well. But emotion elements are forced but not convincing enough. Trivikram seems to have inspired by ‘Magadheera’ with Rao Ramesh’s part. Brahmanandam has got very small role. Sunil entertained very well. Anushka’s iron-body characterization is also interesting.
Coming to screenplay, that is a bit complicated. Audiences find it a bit difficult to get connected. The introduction shot of Mahesh Babu is weak. The dialogues are good but here and there missed the grip and not up to the expectation. But on a whole the Trivikram-factor worked for this.
To sign off, watch the movie at your leisure, get entertained and also try to take some message into your life that can bring in some change in you and society.
Bottom-Line: Watch it without expectations
(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])
