Why Mahesh Babu's Khaleja is finally getting the love it missed 15 years ago

India Today

3 days ago

The final dialogue from the film 'Khaleja', 'Athbhutham jarige tappudu evvaru gurthinchaleru, jarigina tharuvatha evvaru gurthinchalsina avasaram ledu' which translates to, 'No one recognises a miracle while it's happening; and once it's done, there's no need to recognise it" - has come to reflect the film's own journey. What was once seen as a commercial failure in 2010 has now, fifteen years later, turned into a record-breaking success with its re-release. A miracle that went unnoticed at first, only to be celebrated long after it had quietly made history.advertisementConventionally, a film's success is judged by its box office performance. But is that the only metric? This debate of success versus impact has existed for as long as cinema itself. Box office numbers depend on much more than just the quality of the film: timing, audience sensibilities, release competition, packaging, genre, the star's momentum. All of these played a part in the film's box office success. But, if success also means longevity, cultural relevance and emotional celebration, then a good film will always find its way into the hearts of audiences, even if it takes years.There are countless examples in Indian cinema. From Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool and Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker to Shah Rukh Khan's Swades, films that failed at first found cult status later. Telugu cinema too has its share of such films, including Ram Charan's 'Orange', Rana's 'Leader', Ravi Teja's Neninthe, and among them, Mahesh Babu and Trivikram's Khaleja stands out as a film whose second life seems far more powerful than its first.Why Khaleja Failed to Impress in 2010advertisement
Released on October 7, 2010, Khaleja arrived with high expectations. It marked the reunion of Mahesh Babu and Trivikram Srinivas after Athadu, a film that also gained widespread recognition after its satellite run. By then, Mahesh had already become a mass hero following Pokiri. However, his previous two films - Sainikudu and Athidi - were commercial disappointments, and Khaleja marked his comeback after a three-year gap.During the film's promotional interviews, when asked about his hiatus and the role in Khaleja, Mahesh Babu remarked, 'I felt a sense of monotony with the characters I was playing. I wanted to break out of that bubble, so I went all in with this one. Alluri Seetharama Raju in Khaleja is the most challenging and significant role of my career.' This shift in tone and the long gap between films contributed to heightened expectations among fans.Trivikram, too, was riding high after Pawan Kalyan's Jalsa, and expectations were sky-high. But, upon its release, Khaleja received mostly negative responses. Critics pointed to its confusing themes, uneven screenplay and the lack of strong action moments. Despite Mahesh Babu's entertaining performance, fans were divided. The film also released around the same time as Rajinikanth and Shankar's Enthiran, which affected Khaleja's run in theatres.advertisementIn an interview with iDream, producer C Kalyan remarked, 'Before common audiences saw the merit in the film, Mahesh Babu's fans themselves killed the film. Their expectations were high, expecting a mass entertainer, but here he was, doing comedy which people didn't accept. They compared it to Robot (Endhiran) and dismissed it. But, I knew Khaleja would become a trendsetter.'What Makes Khaleja an Over-Time Classic?While Khaleja may not be a perfect film, several of its elements are undeniably striking. Mahesh Babu as Alluri Sitarama Raju, a taxi driver, is fresh, humorous, grounded and entirely believable. His reactions, one-liners and comedy timing add a layer of spontaneity. Even in high-stakes sequences, he never breaks the character of Seetharama Raju. His iconic use of "Bhayya!" became a pop culture catchphrase.The comedy is another high point. It's woven into the fabric of the narrative, not added as filler but as organic, dialogue-heavy moments. The chase scene involving Govardhan in the second half is a great example. The intensity is contrasted by its quirky energy, making it both entertaining and unique.Director Trivikram attempts to layer deeper philosophical ideas into the plot, about God, purpose and faith. At the film's success meet, the director, explaining the core of the film, said, 'After the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna ruled for many years. He died a normal man, his children were killed, thieves looted the kingdom. We don't talk about that because, to us, he is God when he speaks the Bhagavad Gita. Similarly, when an auto driver saves a man in an accident, he becomes God to that man, for that moment, for the outside world, he is an ordinary auto driver. Similarly, our hero.' It's a bold, layered idea. One that took time to be understood and celebrated.advertisementWhile Trivikram's signature dialogue writing elevated the film, intense lines like "Gaali velu chusthundi (the wind will lead the way) or 'Nela vollu virucukuntundi sidda (The earth will tear apart its skin, Sidda), or the famous monologue in the climax are now quoted with reverence, not just for their meaning, but for their literary richness.Over time, social media discourse, decoding videos, and re-watches have also brought attention to the film's aesthetics, from Mani Sharma's music to the cinematography and production design.Is Khaleja a Perfect Film?Despite its cult following, many of the film's original criticisms still hold. The pacing is slow. While the chemistry between Mahesh Babu and Anushka works, her character Subhashini's role, too, feels underwritten. The villain, a corporate mining kingpin, comes across as a convenient caricature in an otherwise ambitious film.advertisementMost importantly, the film fails to invest enough time in its central theme. About 50 per cent of Khaleja is comedy, 40 per cent is set up, and barely 10 per cent is devoted to exploring the idea of godhood and existentialism. The one scene where Seetharama Raju has his realisation is brilliant, but there should have been more such moments to lend weight to the premise.Still, for all its flaws, Khaleja is a rare attempt. A film that blends philosophy, humour and commercial sensibilities in a way Telugu cinema hadn't seen before. It may not have worked in 2010, but fifteen years on, its resonance is louder than ever.