Khaleja(2010)
Khaleja is a 2010 Telugu-language action comedy film directed by Trivikram Srinivas. It stars Mahesh Babu as Seetharama Raju, a taxi driver mistaken for a divine savior, alongside Anushka Shetty and Prakash Raj. The story follows Raju as he is forced into a remote village ravaged by a mysterious illness and must uncover the truth behind the plague. The film blends supernatural elements with social commentary on corporate greed and land grabbing. Mahesh Babu's dialogue delivery and the film's unique premise were praised, though it received mixed reviews and was a box office disappointment. It won two Filmfare Awards South for Best Male Playback Singer. The film was released on October 7, 2010.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- VI Movies and TV, Hotstar, Prime Video, Sun Nxt, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 8 October 2010
- Director
- Trivikram Srinivas
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 50m
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
A simple taxi driver named Seetharama Raju is mistaken for a prophesied savior by villagers suffering from a deadly, unexplained illness. He wants to escape but is forced to stay and investigate. He discovers a powerful businessman is poisoning the water supply to steal the village land. Raju must choose between running away or becoming the warrior the village needs.
“The reluctant warrior awakens”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Khaleja
Cast reunions in this film: Kota Srinivasa Rao & Brahmanandam (90 films together), Tanikella Bharani & Brahmanandam (86 films together), Prakash Raj & Brahmanandam (59 films together), Brahmanandam & Sunil Varma (48 films together), Tanikella Bharani & Kota Srinivasa Rao (37 films together), and Mani Sharma & Brahmanandam (27 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Khaleja' is a Telugu word meaning 'land' or 'kingdom', referring to the village setting.
- Mahesh Babu's character was originally planned to be a cook, but was changed to a taxi driver during scripting.
- The movie's climax was shot in the arid landscapes of Rajasthan, giving it a distinct visual look.
- A real village in Andhra Pradesh faced a water crisis, so the crew arranged for water tankers to help them during filming.
- The film initially underperformed at the box office but later gained a strong cult following on television and digital platforms.
- Director Trivikram included subtle references to Hindu mythology, like the protagonist being an 'avatar' or divine incarnation.
- The comedy track involving Brahmanandam was largely improvised on set, adding to the film's humor.