Kha, kha, kha... Khaaleja (2010)

Mahesh Babu was my first SI crush, right after I saw Pokiri, in cinema (!). That was my first Southie and till date it's one of my favest ones. I never get tired of rewatching.
Yay, I remember my deep shock about year ago, when I was a beginner in Indian cinema and I suddently realised that he had no releases since Athidi. I know that heroes are mostly less busy then heroines but - wow. How come!
And then, after I saw everything with him (quite recently, but before that I missed Prince), I felt strange. [Thank God guys like Surya, Venky or Mohanlal has wider filmographies to catch up].

I had no idea if to watch long-expected Khaleja now, or wait or I don't know. Hey, I've waited almost two years for this one, how long will take Sreenu Vaitla-Mahesh combo to release?

Firstly - this is not Puli, olammo!, and it defenitely has better script, not only great hero.

Personally, I like Trivikram the writer but Trivikram the director isn'y appealing to me. Then both - script and direction fails, like Jalsa, Athadu (in both I liked only heroes performances) or damn boring Nuvve Nuvve.
Despite this, I'm always amazed by his dialogues, let it be Manmadhudu or Malliswari, that movies won't be the same without Trivikram's lines.

Khaleja is a full-packed entertainer, I heard about some deepth but let's say I'm blind, sare na?
It has a hero that's able to fight, talk, save, love, dance, kill (maybe not at one moment) and a heroine that's maybe not MENSA member but she doesn't have to, as her legs, pranks and songs apperance are more important. There's also a guy who want to spoil hero's life, fondly called villain. Plus some "key" characters, like a future-teller along with others. And whole lot of other that are supposed to make us laugh our ass off (I still have mine).

Story is engageing, maybe it's not new but I liked the way it was narrated. Not usual intro-flashback-revenge / tragedy-revenge stuff.
And the way of gaving us another concept of God... Ya, touching.

Mahesh - maybe I just had to wait to much or... He was damn amazing? He's better which every performance, imagine him after 20 years! Super Uncle or what? It's impossible to get a clear vision of 55 years old Prince cause look at him now - always younger, always vivacious, always fresh, always a Prince.
[Thank God I'm actor-friendly, I can't imagine focusing on Nandamuri or Konidela only!]

I want to thank Trivikram for giving Mahesh a lines that made him improve his dialogue delivery. Of course, I find cute his quiet voice but sometimes I just had thoughts that there's a lac of something in his pants.
Bangaram ^^ (I think they should pay some money to my darl Githa, she used to use it long before Khaleja ;))

Anushka? She earned lots of respect I gave her, after seeing few interviews and watching significant flicks. She's now probably one of my favest gals down SI.
Well, she hasn't got much to do. She's good with Mahesh, tough maybe sometimes I felt their energies do not match perfectly and there's an error on screen.

Prakash Raj's part is just too limited. He appeared in like 4 scenes.
Aww, Subbaraju! He's not active nowadays but with Mahesh - treat.
Shafi was equal, scary once again.
Sunil? Where are you? Isn't it your last comic apperance? So WTF was is "quit" scene. I fell pity for the character, which was totally adorable.
Brahmi is so blah. Ali isn't much better.
Archana has this SA which is average though it's quite important for the story.
Rao Ramesh!!! AAA! He's my pick to be the next Mega Star!!

Well, I think that story was OK but somehow it became drag when the script was ready. Climax - ee? Opening scene - ee? The movie is based on fights, I rather prefer movies based on, I don't know, dialogues? Huh, maybe I'm just oldfashioned in that matter. Quite renectly I observed that sooper-dooper stunts are bored for me, I'm trying to change it.

Direction - OK. Not bad. Defenitely it's better then in Jalsa. Pawan Kalyan starrer is a mystery for me, 99% of my bollywood.pl mates just can't stand the movie, even a guy who loves Ileana.
Script fails, though, like I said before, narration saves it.

Music isn't not Mani's best (music review) but it's catchy, foot-tapping and, in general, appealing.
Videos are fine, but it's damn visible that choreographers like Ahmed Khan and Prem Rakshit have their own style which are much different and when you want to show in 30 of the movie two songs, one by Ahmed and second by Prem, it's strange to watch.
Boom Shakanaka is similar to Puli Amma Thale, remember my words about typical west sexual fanatasy? Yet again + Baby one more time rip + stupid American youth comedy football scene.
Makathika is good, it's Prem's creation. Love Anushka's balck dress, Mahesh moves are out of this world. I can't belive it's him!
Sunday Monday has Ahmed again. Foreign dancers, strange costumes, rather easy moves - so unlike Prem, who's used to studios, local background dancers and moves that are looks simple but are damn hard to repeat.
Pilliche is funny. Why? Because Anushka looks like a statue, among rather tiny woman ;) Mahesh expressions are priceless.
Taxi taxi? Let down. Partly ripped from Pudhu pudhu and Taxi?
Sada siva makes the movie special but... it's nothing new, actually.

So - good show. Great Mahesh and nice story.
Different, but not that much to call it a milestone.

One question - why (YE?!) three years?

Rate - 3++/4--
VM - 75%