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 rankingsA fun nostalgia deep-dive for fans counting down to SSMB29.Watch episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YEGiV2fk0m0Timestamps:00:24 – Intro: Sravan & returning guest Kireeti00:47 – Completing the Trivikram–Mahesh trilogy01:12 – Why revisit Khaleja now?01:48 – First memories & expectations revisited02:19 – Mani Sharma’s last Mahesh Babu album02:49 – Khaleja as a cult classic03:38 – Did we actually like it on rewatch?04:20 – When the plot actually starts (40 minutes in!)05:04 – The “chosen one” concept explained06:05 – Insurance + desert subplot nonsense06:57 – The sugarcane conspiracy storyline07:57 – Prakash Raj as the villain09:09 – Comedy filler & disconnected scenes09:40 – Comparison with Athadu10:04 – Ranking Mahesh Babu movies11:06 – Dialogue quality vs later Trivikram films11:32 – Julayi comparisons12:22 – Anushka’s characterisation13:32 – Mahesh Babu’s extroverted performance14:26 – Comedy that works vs doesn’t15:44 – Rating Khaleja (scores out of 10)16:49 – Comparing to Okkadu17:32 – Comparing to Pokiri18:26 – Mahesh filmography misfires19:20 – Mani Sharma’s standout theme20:09 – Final verdict21:14 – Rewatch recommendation21:37 – Outro & how to reach us Follow us: Instagram: @paisavasoolpod TikTok: @paisavasool6 Email: cognitiverecalibrationpodcast@gmail.comThe equipment we use:Rode Podmic: https://amzn.to/2LSeJPbRodecaster Pro: https://amzn.to/3bLykLPRode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://amzn.to/2M0ujIpXLR Cables: https://amzn.to/38QTEOgåIf you want to support this podcast so we can keep producing our content for free consider the following options:Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3gjnw87åBuy us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CRecalibrationAcast Supporter: https://supporter.acast.com/cognitive-recalibrationIf you enjoy our content, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you haven't already done so, please give us a review on iTunes or Spotify and help spread the word.#Khaleja #MaheshBabu #Trivikram#PaisaVasool #TeluguCinema #Tollywood #MovieReview #ManiSharma #SSMB29 #Globetrotter #MaheshBabuFans #IndianCinema Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.