To celebrate the excitement around SSMB29, Paisa Vasool revisits one of Mahesh Babu’s most debated films — Khaleja — joined by our special guest Kireeti.
We break down how Khaleja went from a mixed theatrical release to a cult classic, whether the “misunderstood masterpiece” label is deserved, and how Trivikram’s writing holds up today.
We cover:
• The bold supernatural concept
• Why the execution is uneven
• Mahesh’s rare comedic performance
• Anushka’s characterisation
• Mani Sharma’s standout background score
• Whether the film deserved its cult reputation
• How it compares to Athadu, Okkadu, Pokiri & more
• Our personal Mahesh Babu rankings
A fun nostalgia deep-dive for fans counting down to SSMB29.
Watch episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YEGiV2fk0m0
Timestamps:
00:24 – Intro: Sravan & returning guest Kireeti
00:47 – Completing the Trivikram–Mahesh trilogy
01:12 – Why revisit Khaleja now?
01:48 – First memories & expectations revisited
02:19 – Mani Sharma’s last Mahesh Babu album
02:49 – Khaleja as a cult classic
03:38 – Did we actually like it on rewatch?
04:20 – When the plot actually starts (40 minutes in!)
05:04 – The “chosen one” concept explained
06:05 – Insurance + desert subplot nonsense
06:57 – The sugarcane conspiracy storyline
07:57 – Prakash Raj as the villain
09:09 – Comedy filler & disconnected scenes
09:40 – Comparison with Athadu
10:04 – Ranking Mahesh Babu movies
11:06 – Dialogue quality vs later Trivikram films
11:32 – Julayi comparisons
12:22 – Anushka’s characterisation
13:32 – Mahesh Babu’s extroverted performance
14:26 – Comedy that works vs doesn’t
15:44 – Rating Khaleja (scores out of 10)
16:49 – Comparing to Okkadu
17:32 – Comparing to Pokiri
18:26 – Mahesh filmography misfires
19:20 – Mani Sharma’s standout theme
20:09 – Final verdict
21:14 – Rewatch recommendation
21:37 – Outro & how to reach us
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