Khiladi Movie Review – Can be skipped

Directed by: Ramesh Varma
Produced by: Satyanarayana Koneru, Ramesh Varma
Music by: Devi Sri Prasad
Starring: Ravi Teja, Arjun Sarja, Unni Mukundan, Meenakshi Chaudhary & Dimple Hayathi
Release Date: 11 February 2022
Rating: 2.5/5

Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja has scored a huge blockbuster last year with the movie Krack. The film got released amid the COVID scare and turned super hit. This year, he has come up with his next movie Khiladi. The movie is releasing after a COVID scare as well. Ramesh Varma is the director of the film. Let us see how the movie is.

Story:

Finance Auditor Mohan Gandhi (Ravi Teja) gets arrested for the murder of his wife (Dimple Hayati) and his in-laws. He narrates his flashback to psychology student Chitra (Meenakshi Choudhary) who believes in him and helps him to get out of jail.

What is Mohan Gandhi’s real intention? How does he gets involved in a 10,000 Crore money laundering case? Who is Mohan Gandhi, what is his real flashback? is what forms the real crux of the film.

Performances:

Ravi Teja surprisingly in the first half of Khiladi underplays and it is a bit disappointing. However, after his real intentions are revealed, then it is a roller coaster ride for Ravi Teja’s fans. He is at his energetic best after that. Ravi Teja is seen in multiple shades in the movie and he did well. Though the proceedings test your patience, Ravi Teja does his best to support the film.

Meenakshi Choudhary and Dimple Hayati are used more as glamor dolls. Their skin show is over the top at times. Even Anasuya does her best in this department. She has played an ultra-glamorous role. Murli Sharma, Rao Ramesh, and Vennela Kishore tried to do their best but their characters aren’t etched well.

Arjun has done a neat job as a CBI officer but we expect a lot from this role, but not to be. Others are okay.

Technicalities:

Khiladi can be termed as a stylish con entertainer. Director has designed the action part well but failed in other departments, especially in the screenplay. The twist towards the interval makes the audience go in a confused state than surprised. The direction is not good either.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music is mediocre except for the title song. The background music sounds repetitive too. Editing is weak and could be better. The cinematography is nice. The rich visuals compliment the action sequences well. The bike chase sequence shot in Italy looks extremely stylish. Production values are rich and seemed to be much more than the actual market.

Analysis:

Khiladi is undoubtedly a disappointing attempt. Though Ravi Teja tried his best to entertain with his massy body language and energetic performance, the director made the film quite mediocre. The screenplay seems logicless. The entire 10,000 money laundering episode turn more silly than engaging. Glamor shows, stylish action sequences are some of the attention-grabbing parts apart from Ravi Teja. Other than these, Khiladi has nothing to offer at all.