Khiladi (2022 film)

Bala Singham is a crime boss who sends a container of {{INRConvert|10000|c}} to India to bribe the MLAs to place his father, Guru Singham as the next CM. Pooja is a criminologist who learns about Mohan Gandhi as a part of her research, who was convicted of killing his whole family, except for his daughter. She meets him in the prison, but he refuses to talk to her. While seeing him and his daughter's bond, she promises to help him get bail if he narrates his story, to which Gandhi agrees.

Past: Gandhi is an orphan, who is raised by a successful businessman, Rajashekhar and became the General Manager of the company. He lives a happy life with his wife Chitra and their daughter. CBI officer Arjun arrests Rajashekhar in a money laundering case linked with the same {{INRConvert|10000|c}} orchestrated by Bala Singam. Guru Singham places two choices for Gandhi: finding the money or letting his family get killed. Gandhi confronts Rajashekhar and learns that Rajashekhar did this to return the favour to Guru Singam, who helped him during his days. Gandhi secretly meets Rajasekhar and decodes the location of the money.

After confirming the same, Gandhi first informs the Home Minister, who informs the same to David (who also wants a share of the money). The Home Minister orders to kill Rajashekhar inside the custody and transports the money. David robs the money, replaces it with fake currency midway, and burns down the container. Arjun finds a note and is proven fake after forensic analysis. David, who was constantly instructed over the phone via an unknown person, kills Gandhi's family except his daughter, but the latter takes the blame to save his daughter.

Present: Pooja arranges a bail using her father's name, DGP Jayaram, to perform final rites to his father-in-law. After learning this, Arjun and Jayaram try to stop him, but Gandhi escapes. Pooja, to her shock, finds that Gandhi's supposedly dead family members are alive and are a part of his crew, where it is revealed that Gandhi is a Dubai-based con artist whose sole aim is to fool everyone and rob the money. Arjun was sent to arrest him in Dubai.

Past: One day, Gandhi learns about the {{INRConvert|10000|c}} and planned to steal them, where he hires a club dancer named Aditi (Chitra), whom Bala Singham intends to date and with the help of his gang and Aditi, Gandhi hacks Bala Singham's phone where the location of the money is stored. When Gandhi is about to acquire the money, Arjun arrests him, but he was shot. Arjun passes the information to the government and is posted to the CBI. Suddenly, Gandhi arrives and surrenders himself where he takes the blame for the crimes he did not committed and was given 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. In the prison, he befriended Ramakrishna, whose story was the one which Gandhi narrated to Pooja and used her to get himself released from prison. He also planned to forge the documents so that Pooja would believe what he was telling was true.

Present: Arjun deduces a plan where they could catch David and Gandhi. Outside the court, Gandhi captures David after a shootout, while Singham's men captured Ramakrishna. While confronted, a badly heated David reveals that he did all this based on the instructions of an unknown person who is actually Jayaram. Pooja doesn't believe this, but she finds that all the cash is cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Singham was about to kill Ramakrishna after denying having any knowledge of the money. However, in the nick of time, Pooja calls Singham and strikes a deal to tell him about the location and lets Ramakrishna leave. During a shootout, Aditi betrays Gandhi and shoots him for the money. While hospitalized, Pooja learns from Gandhi's henchmen that Gandhi was after the money to make a charitable trust for needy people. Pooja tells that she lied to them and her father had all the money in the hard cash. Singham and his men arrives at the location and kills Jayaram's men, but Gandhi arrives and kills all of Singham's henchmen and Singham.

When Gandhi is about to take the money, he suddenly has a change of heart and frees Ramakrishna, who finally meets his daughter. After a showdown with Arjun, he sees Gandhi as a changed person and lets him scott free. Later, Guru Singham is stripped of his ministerial post as the money he used to bribe the MLAs were bogus. It is revealed that Gandhi stole the real money and fooled Singham and everyone all along. At the same time, Gandhi was conversing with Arjun on the phone. Gandhi reveals that he is neither against him nor Singham and Jayaram, but was fighting against the corrupted system's responsibility towards people and wishes good luck to Arjun, who vows to arrest him again.

{{cast listing|

• Ravi Teja as Mohan Gandhi/Khiladi/Rama Krishna (Fake)
• Unni Mukundan as Rama Krishna (Real) (extended cameo)
• Arjun Sarja as Arjun Bharadwaj
• Meenakshi Chaudhary as Pooja Jayaram
• Dimple Hayathi as Chitra / Aditi
• Anasuya Bharadwaj as Chandrakala/Chandini
• Rao Ramesh as Raja Shekhar
• Vennela Kishore as Bobby
• Murali Sharma as Puttaparthi
• Mukesh Rishi as Home Minister Guru Singham
• Nikitin Dheer as Bala Singham
• Thakur Anoop Singh as David
• Sachin Khedekar as Jayaram
• Vinodhini Vaidyanathan as Mahalakshmi
• Bharath Reddy as David's Henchmen
• Keshav Deepak
• Baby Sanvitha as Chinnu

}}

Ravi Teja was reported to play dual roles in the film.{{cite news|date=18 October 2020|title='Khiladi': Ravi Teja to enact dual roles in forthcoming Telugu film|work=DNA India|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-khiladi-ravi-teja-to-enact-dual-roles-in-forthcoming-telugu-film-2850630|access-date=1 February 2021}} Meenakshi Chaudhary and Dimple Hayathi are cast as the leads.{{cite news|date=19 January 2021|title=Khiladi: Ravi Teja shares a selfie from the sets of upcoming action entertainer|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/khiladi-ravi-teja-shares-a-selfie-from-the-sets-of-upcoming-action-entertainer/articleshow/80341405.cms|access-date=1 February 2021}} Principal photography of the film began in November 2020.{{cite news|date=18 November 2020|title=Khiladi: Ravi Teja reveals first look|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/khiladi-ravi-teja-reveals-first-look-6773669/|access-date=1 February 2021}} Few action scenes were shot in Italy in April–May 2021.{{Cite web|title=Ravi Teja shoots for an intense action sequence in Italy for 'Khiladi'; Watch BTS video|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/ravi-teja-shoots-intense-action-sequence-italy-khiladi-watch-bts-video-781689|access-date=26 June 2021|website=PINKVILLA|date=19 June 2021|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626122333/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/ravi-teja-shoots-intense-action-sequence-italy-khiladi-watch-bts-video-781689|url-status=dead}} The second schedule of the film began in June 2021, after a break due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India.{{Cite web|last=Arikatla|first=Venkat|date=21 June 2021|title=Ravi Teja to Resume Two Films Simultaneously|url=https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/news/ravi-teja-to-resume-two-films-simultaneously-113884|access-date=26 June 2021|website=greatandhra.com|language=en}}

The filming was completed in September 2021. Arjun Sarja joined the production in December 2020.{{cite news|date=21 December 2020|title=Actor Arjun Sarja joins the cast of Ravi Teja's upcoming movie 'Khiladi'|work=Deccan Herald|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/actor-arjun-sarja-joins-the-cast-of-ravi-teja-s-upcoming-movie-khiladi-945269.html|access-date=1 February 2021}} Unni Mukundan was cast in a pivotal guest role in January 2021.{{cite news|date=23 January 2021|title=Unni Mukundan roped in for Ravi Teja, Ramesh Varma's Khiladi|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/unni-mukundan-roped-in-for-ravi-teja-ramesh-varmas-khiladi/articleshow/80624852.cms|access-date=1 February 2021}} The music of the film is being composed by Devi Sri Prasad.{{cite news|url=https://www.ntvtelugu.com/en/post/devi-sri-prasad-begins-work-on-ravi-tejas-khiladi|title=Devi Sri Prasad begins work on Ravi Teja's 'Khiladi'|work=NTV|date=11 December 2020|access-date=4 February 2021|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208113606/https://www.ntvtelugu.com/en/post/devi-sri-prasad-begins-work-on-ravi-tejas-khiladi|url-status=dead}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Khiladi

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Devi Sri Prasad

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 2022

| recorded = 2021

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Soundtrack

| length = {{Duration|m=16|s=50}}

| language = Telugu

| label = Aditya Music

| producer = Devi Sri Prasad

| prev_title = Good Luck Sakhi

| prev_year = 2022

| next_title = Aadavaallu Meeku Joharlu

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Khiladi

| type = soundtrack

| single1 = Istam

| single1date = 10 September 2021

| single2 = Khiladi

| single2date = 4 November 2021

| single3 = Atta Sudake

| single3date = 1 January 2022

| single4 = Full Kick

| single4date = 26 January 2022

| single5 = Catch Me

| single5date = 5 February 2022

}}

}}

The soundtrack and score of the film is composed by Devi Sri Prasad.{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Khiladi by Devi Sri Prasad|url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/khiladi/efd5zkFCvzQ_|website=Jio Saavn}} The audio rights were acquired by Aditya Music.

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline =

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 16:50

| all_writing =

| all_lyrics = Sri Mani

| all_music =

| title1 = Istam

| extra1 = Hari Priya

| length1 = 2:46

| title2 = Khiladi

| extra2 = Ram Miriyala

| length2 = 3:28

| title3 = Atta Sudake

| extra3 = Devi Sri Prasad, Sameera Bharadwaj

| title4 = Full Kick

| extra4 = Mamta Sharma, Sagar

| length4 = 3:53

| title5 = Catch Me

| extra5 = Neha Bhasin, Jaspreet Jasz

| length5 = 3:37

| length3 = 3:06

}}

The film's release was originally scheduled for 28 May 2021.{{Cite news|title=Ravi Teja's Khiladi to hit screens on May 28|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/ravi-tejas-khiladi-to-hit-screens-on-may-28/articleshow/80605682.cms|access-date=15 April 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}} Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the film's release was then postponed indefinitely.{{Cite web|date=6 May 2021|title=COVID-19: Ravi Teja's 'Khiladi' theatrical release postponed|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/covid-19-ravi-teja-s-khiladi-theatrical-release-postponed-148396|access-date=16 May 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en}} The makers soon announced that the film would be released in theatres only.{{Cite web|last=Hungama|first=Bollywood|date=16 May 2021|title=Ravi Teja starrer Khiladi gets a new poster, makers inform that the film will release in theatres only|website=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/south-cinema/ravi-teja-starrer-khiladi-gets-new-poster-makers-inform-film-will-release-theatres/|access-date=16 May 2021|language=en}} The film was released on 11 February 2022 along with its Hindi dubbed version.{{Cite web|date=11 February 2022|title=Khiladi: Ravi Teja starrer gets an official release date; Details Inside|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/khiladi-ravi-teja-starrer-gets-official-release-date-details-inside-938256|url-status=dead|website=Pinkvilla|access-date=11 November 2021|archive-date=16 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316074006/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/khiladi-ravi-teja-starrer-gets-official-release-date-details-inside-938256}}{{Cite web|last=Hungama|first=Bollywood|date=2022-02-05|title=Ravi Teja starrer Khiladi to release in Hindi on February 11, 2022 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/ravi-teja-starrer-khiladi-to-release-in-hindi-on-february-11-2022/|access-date=2022-02-05|language=en}}

==Reception==

Khiladi received mixed to negative reviews from critics and audience, who praised Ravi Teja's performance but criticised the direction and screenplay.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-13|title='Khiladi' 2 days box office collection : Ravi Teja-starrer fails to set the cash registers ringing|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/khiladi-2-days-box-office-collection-ravi-teja-starrer-fails-to-set-the-cash-registers-ringing-1080984.html|website=Deccan Herald|quote=Khiladi, meanwhile, has received underwhelming reviews with most critics criticising the unimpressive screenplay.}}

Neeshitha Nyayapati of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 2/5 and criticized the screenplay, CGI, and songs, writing, "Khiladi is an absurd, sometimes stylish and oddly wacky, disengaging crime thriller."{{cite web|date=11 Feb 2022|title=Not even Ravi Teja's charm can save this One!|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/khiladi/movie-review/89498117.cms|access-date=|work=Times Of India}} Pinkvilla gave the film a rating of 2/5 and wrote "'Khiladi' is a template-driven film if you care to scratch the surface. It's just that the writing department seeks to fortify the formulaic story by structuring the film in a less-than-routine manner in the first half".{{cite web |title=Khiladi Movie Review: This bloated film could have been less knotty |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/khiladi-movie-review-bloated-film-could-have-been-less-knotty-1020577 |website=Pinkvilla |date=11 February 2022 |access-date=13 Feb 2022}}

Reviewing the for The Indian Express, Gabetta Ranjith Kumar appreciated Ravi Teja's performance but felt that the unnecessary songs and inane subplots had put film at a disadvantage.{{cite web|date=11 Feb 2022|title=Khiladi movie review: Ravi Teja's heist drama has no adrenaline pumping thrills|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/tollywood-movie-review/khiladi-movie-review-ravi-teja-heist-drama-has-no-adrenaline-pumping-thrills-7767741/lite/|access-date=|work=Indian Express}}The Hindu critic Y. Sunita Chowdhary called it an "average film," and added "The story lacks logic, tests patience but cannot be written off completely."{{Cite news|last=Chowdhary|first=Y. Sunita|date=2022-02-11|title='Khiladi' movie review: Ravi Teja plays to the gallery|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/khiladi-movie-review-ravi-teja-plays-to-the-gallery/article38412676.ece|issn=0971-751X}}

In an other negative review, The News Minute{{'s}} Balakrishna Ganeshan gave the film a rating of 1.5/5 and termed it "an unappealing mish-mash, with Ravi Teja playing a predictable role." Ganesh wrote that "The director attempts to deceive the audience with a story similar to Shock. But then he completely changes the trajectory by making it a story of a con artist, who is just invincible, or let's say any average Telugu hero who seems to possess superpowers."{{Cite web|date=2022-02-11|title=Khiladi review: An unappealing mish-mash, with Ravi Teja playing a predictable role|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/khiladi-review-unappealing-mish-mash-ravi-teja-playing-predictable-role-160877|website=The News Minute}}

In early June 2021, actor Salman Khan acquired the remake rights for the film's Hindi version.{{Cite web|date=10 June 2021|title=Salman Khan Acquires Remake Rights Of Telugu Film Arjun dev Khiladi|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/salman-khan-acquires-remake-rights-of-telugu-film-khiladi-3831533.html|access-date=21 June 2021|website=news18.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=moviespie|date=2022-02-10|title=Ravi Teja Starrer Telugu Khiladi Movie Releases In Hindi, Salman Khan Acquires Remake Rights|url=https://www.moviespie.com/news/movie-news/ravi-teja-starrer-telugu-khiladi-movie-releases-in-hindi-salman-khan-acquires-remake-rights/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Moviespie|language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|13299052}}

{{Ramesh Varma}}

Category:Films directed by Ramesh Varma

Category:Films scored by Devi Sri Prasad

Category:Indian action thriller films

Category:2022 action thriller films

Category:2022 films

Category:2020s Telugu-language films

Category:2020s Indian films