khiladi telugu movie review

Khiladi Review – Unbearable

OUR RATING 1.75/5

CENSOR 2h 34m, U/A Certified.

A huge sum of two thousand crores is sent to India from Italy. It is to be used politically to make the current Home Minister the state’s Chief Minister. How Gandhi (Ravi Teja), a regular family man with a kid, gets involved in this extraordinary situation. Why is the CBI after him? What happens to him and his family, in the end, is the movie’s over plot.

Performances

Ravi Teja is an entertainer, and there is always an undercurrent entertainment segment for him where he acts in his typical style. It is no different here, and we see that for a significant portion. Leaving it, the star is given a slight variation where he showcases a new side. Be it the ‘dancing side’ in Disco Raja or the angrier persona in Krack, so on are some of the examples. In Khiladi, Ravi Teja gets to play an additional over the top person.

Now imagine a situation where Ravi Teja is already energetic and over the top in his typical style. And he has to further up the ante to show the difference. The final result is far from satisfactory as we can see there is too much overaction. The director gets the blame here for not etching the role appropriately, but ultimately, the hero is doing it, and he too shares it. Khiladi is, therefore, a forgettable part for the star.

Ramesh Varma is the man behind Khiladi. He made his debut with the movie Oka Oorilo way back in 2005. Khiladi is his second film with Ravi Teja after Veera. As one can see, there is not much to talk about the director filmography and success. When one watches Khiladi, we further know why?

Khiladi begins on an interesting note in the short jail sequence. It sets a feeling that we will see a narrative that won’t be routine, perhaps. However, we are soon jolted to commercial reality with the whole stretch of the family drama, comedy and romance for the next one hour.

It would have been fine if the comedy or romance worked, but they fall flat. The real purpose seems to be visual titillation via all these scenes. We see that amplified in the songs through the exposing.

Amidst all these routine bits, we get some suspenseful moments in between. It helps sustain the interest and give hope that something big is in the store. During the pre-interval, the hopes are raised with money back into the scheme of things for a brief period. We finally think that a thrilling ride is finally set to begin, but the hopes are dashed with the silly interval that follows.

The real problem with Khiladi starts in the second half of the movie. We get a glimpse of the issue in the first half, but they are blown out of proportion during the second hour. It is an overstuffed story and screenplay.

Director Ramesh Varma and his team have packed the script with too many characters, subplots and related twists. At times, one gets a clueless feeling from the people behind the whole thing. It is why despite a relatively fast pace, one feels exhausted.

Neither the action (lavishly shot and good in parts) nor the thriller narrative holds our attention. It is all due to the poor screenplay and over the top acting and execution.

There is hardly any respite story-wise until the end. Such is the ferocity that the songs genuinely feel like a relief in the proceedings.

Overall, Khiladi is an overstuffed, over the top entertainer that tests patience and kills interest despite a fast pace and lavish making. It is one of those films that goes wrong a little too soon and never turns the tide back. If you are a fan of the star, pretend the movie didn’t exist.

A massive star cast in the movie is fronted by two young heroines, Dimple Hayathi and Meenakshi Chaudhary. While both are utilized to the hilt on the glamorous side (a lot of overexposing), the former has a slightly better role as part of the story.

Senior hero Arjun plays a typical CBI officer part. He has done similar roles with slight changes in the past, and he goes about the proceedings clinically. Apart from him, none of the rest of the cast has properly developed roles to make an impression. And this includes the likes of many notable names such as Unni Mukundan, Rao Ramesh, Sachin Khedekar and Mukesh Rushi etc. Vennela Kishore is getting typecast and the bumbling funny guy in the office. It is the same in every other film without any difference at all.

The music by Devi Sri Prasad is on routine lines, but the videos save the day. They are hot in a mass appealing way. The background score, too, is comparatively better. The cinematography by GK Vishnu and Sujith Vassudev is alright. Some parts give the lavish vibe and the big-budget feel, but the typical commercial bits make it look ordinary. Amar Reddy Kudumula’s editing further adds to the messy feeling

Highlights?

Production Values (At Places) Action Scenes (In Parts) Video Songs (For Masses) Pre-Interval

Screenplay Clueless Direction Poor Characterizations

Did I Enjoy It? No

Will You Recommend It? No

Khiladi Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti

Final Report:

Khiladi is a typical commercial entertainer that has gone wrong all the way. It is an execution failure more than the story. Ravi Teja is usual self full of energy. But, there is only so much he can do. The only aspects that live up to pre-release expectations (for masses) are the songs. They are too hot.

— Khiladi is coming to an end. Final report shortly.

— Attasuadake song has good dance choreography. The other heroine Meenakshi Chaudhary makes it a hot number.

— The way it is heading, the Director is totally clueless at this point.

— The reason why Khiladi goes to the prison is revealed.

— Khiladi second half started. Gandhi’s real story and why CBI is chasing him is being revealed.

First Half Report:

A large part of the first half of Khiladi is dedicated to comedy and romance which is below par. Some intrigue develops around the pre-interval mark when we get to actual story involving money. But, it leads to an even silliest interval sequence.

A lot depends on the second half now to recover Khiladi.

— Arjun Bhardawaj (Actor Arjun) enters the show as a strict CBI officer. The story takes a serious turn now. Ravi Teja needs to rescue Rao Ramesh from a serious trouble.

— Ravi Teja -Dimple’s lip-lock shot is placed in the hot mass number ‘Full Kick’ song. Dimple Hayathi does plenty of skin show in this song.

— It’s flashback time for Mohan Gandhi (Raviteja). He falls in love with Murali Sharma’s daughter Chitra (Dimple Hayathi) in first sight.

— Khiladi show started. Meenakshi Chaudhary, a psychology student helping her friend with a thesis on Gandhi (Ravi Teja) who is in jail for a family crime.

Khiladi Movie Review, U.S. Premiere live updates will begin shortly. Stay tuned.

After an unexpectedly long break, Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja is back with a new outing Khiladi. He joins hands with his Veera director Ramesh Varma for the film.

Ravi Teja’s last outing Krack came a year ago for Sankranthi 2021. It turned out to be his career biggest hit despite the limitations at cinemas. He faces a similar situation now with Khiladi. It is a proper big-budget film after some gap and also comes at a time when cinemas are not entirely hundred percent allowed.

The promotions haven’t been up to the mark and the movie gives the impression of rushed release, still, Khiladi is getting decent books. It is because the movie is a big screen mass affair. If it gets a positive talk, it would instantly grow in strength at the box office.

The grand making, casting with many known faces, glamorous heroines and production values are the main calling cards for Khiladi. They are enough to draw the masses in initially.

Ramesh Varma’s last outing Rakshasudu was well received. He would be hoping to repeat the same with Khiladi. Music director Devi Sri Prasad’s name and work will also be an integral factor in bringing the audience to theatres.

As always, M9News is here to give a ‘first-on-net’ Khiladi Movie review. Watch this space for our updates.

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Khiladi movie review highlights : Ravi Teja, Dimple Hayathi, Meenakshi Chaudhary-starrer is high on style, less on logic

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Khiladi Review: Overstuffed Khichdi

Movie: Khiladi Rating: 2/5 Banner: A Studios, Pen Studios Cast: Ravi Teja, Arjun, Dimple Hayathi, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Anasuya, Murali Sharma, Vennela Kishore, Rao Ramesh, and others Writers: Srikanth Vissa, Sagar Music: Devi Sri Prasad DOP: Sujit Vaasudev, GK Vishnu Editor: Amar Reddy Director: Ramesh Varma  Release Date: Feb 11, 2022

Ravi Teja is back in form with the success of “Krack”. His latest action entertainer “Khiladi” directed by Ramesh Varma and produced by Satyanarayana Koneru has carried huge buzz, thanks to vigorous promotions.

Touted to be the most expensive film in Ravi Teja’s career, “Khiladi” also hit the screens in Hindi. Let’s find out the film’s merits and demerits.

Story: Mohan Gandhi (Ravi Teja) is serving jail on the charges of killing his wife (Dimple Hayathi), and in-laws. He is accused of stashing money worth Rs 10,000 crores, which belongs to the Home Minister.

A psychology student Pooja believes that he was wrongly framed and brings Mohan Gandhi out of jail on bail. But is Mohan Gandhi innocent?

Why is CBI officer Arjun (Arjun) hunting Mohan Gandhi?

Artistes’ Performances: Ravi Teja has played many such roles in the past. This time, his attempt to generate entertainment from this soulless character falls flat. He looks cool in designer dresses, but beneath that appearance, nothing works out.

Dimple Hayathi is a sizzler. She has tried to attract the audiences with her dare bare outfits from bikini to saree. She has also got more songs than another heroine Meenakshi Chaudhary.

The other female lead Meenakshi Chaudhary gets more prominence in the second half.

Anasuya also sizzles in a glamour avatar in the second half.

Action King Arjun has played a routine role of a cop who hunts the hero. Vennela Kishore and Murali Sharma are okay.

Prominent actors like Unni Mukundan, Mukesh Rishi, Niktin Dheer, Sachin Khedekar, and Thakur Anup Singh are featured in stock roles.

Technical Excellence: Devi Sri Prasad has composed songs to suit the image of Ravi Teja. “Catch Me” and “Full Kick” are the best among the mass numbers.

GK Vishnu and Sujith Vasudev have captured the action stunts and various locations in rich frames. The lavish production values are the main highlight. The dialogue and screenwriting are formulaic. 

Highlights: Production values Glamour show of heroines

Drawback: Illogical plot Directionless narrative No emotions or entertainment Twists for the sake of twists

Analysis Unless a filmmaker brings some novelty to the board, the stories of hero-playing have become a tiresome watch to the audiences. “Khiladi” is the latest addition.

In “Kick”, Ravi Teja played Robin Hood, which worked big time. In “Khiladi”, there is a scene that spoofs “Kick”, and gives a twist to it. Yes, there are many twists in “Khiladi”. By the end of the film, you get confused as to which was real, which was fake.

Twists are a common feature in con artist films. But here, they appear for the sake of it. And most of them are laughable.

It tries to follow the pattern of Bollywood's "Race" franchise movies in terms of providing twists and turns, but they have not worked out here. 

The film begins interestingly by revealing Ravi Teja as a prisoner and then focusing on Ravi Teja’s flashback – how he fell in love with his wife and how he ended up in jail.

The first half of the film runs on the usual romantic thread between Ravi Teja and Dimple Hayathi. Although the attempt to generate entertainment fails, the director succeeds in the first half with the sprinkling of glamour and catchy songs. Soon the film comes to the real twists, and tricks of the hero, and expectedly the drama completely derails thereafter. 

When the basic plot is an amalgam of plenty of copied scenes of Bollywood and Hollywood movies, how does it not go wrong?

Logic has completely gone for a toss in the whole scheme of snatching Rs 10,000 crores. One person bags 10,000 crores, but the notes turn out to be fake, another one gets the amount, but it goes out of his hands, and again it is shown the money is also fake, and the cycle goes on and on. The directionless plot and overstuffed narrative confuse the audiences. 

Despite boasting colorful songs, glamorous heroines, and rich production values, the whole exercise looks silly. Mainly because the protagonist is neither a hero, one can root for, nor does the story have an emotional core. 

“Khiladi” has a tagline of ‘play smart’, but the film doesn’t boast any smartness. With an unconvincing climax and overstuffed second half, the con drama turns out to be a bore. Too many subplots and too many twists have burdened the experience. 

Bottom line: Plays Overboard

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