Khaleja

Story:

In a remote village named Pali in Andhra Pradesh, an unknown disease is causing numerous deaths every month. The village tantrik, a spiritual leader, predicts that a powerful man with supernatural abilities will rescue them as a divine intervention. He assigns his assistant, Siddhappa, to find such a man and bring him to the village.

Meanwhile, a reporter named Babji from Gemini TV is in Rajasthan to film a travel documentary. He encounters a short-tempered cab driver named Raju, also known as Alluri Seetharama Raju. Raju shares with Babji his reason for being in Rajasthan, explaining that he believes a woman named Subhashini brings bad luck to him and his cab, causing constant misfortunes. While driving a scientist and his assistant to the Geological Survey office, Raju unintentionally witnesses their murder. In the process, the assistant falls on Raju’s cab, causing damage. Raju’s employer tasks him with delivering a ₹500,000 (US$6,300) cheque to the assistant’s family in Girdwala, Rajasthan, and obtaining ₹100,000 (US$1,300) in return to cover the damages.

Meanwhile, Subhashini’s father, Durga Prasad, a prominent sugarcane business magnate, arranges a marriage proposal for her with Gopal Krishnan “GK,” his business partner’s son. However, Subhashini flees when she discovers a packet of condoms in GK’s son’s pocket. GK learns about this and promises to retrieve Subhashini. He sends his henchman, Govardhan, to Rajasthan in search of her. To Raju’s dismay, Subhashini finds him and Babji, and together with a botanist named Tom Cruise, they locate Girdwala and deliver the cheque to the assistant’s family. Seeing the family’s poverty, Raju refuses to ask for ₹100,000 (US$1,300) compensation.

Tom Cruise is forced to stay in the village as the villagers want to punish him for cutting a sentimental plant. Babji departs without offering Raju and Subhashini a ride due to his fear of Subhashini’s behaviour. While waiting for the bus, Govardhan’s men attack Raju, stab him, and kidnap Subhashini after knocking her unconscious. Raju manages to survive, eliminating most of Govardhan’s men, while Govardhan escapes, leaving Subhashini behind. Just as Raju loses consciousness, Siddhappa discovers him, as all the omens predicted by the Tantrik come true. Siddhappa and Subhashini bring Raju to Pali, where the villagers treat his wounds.

Raju wakes up in Pali village, where the villagers believe he is their godlike saviour, much to his dismay. They explain that Tantrik’s prediction has come true. After a medical camp is shut down on GK’s orders, Raju fights against those trying to quell the unrest. He accidentally revives a deceased girl, further reinforcing the villagers’ belief in his powers. Reluctant at first, Raju escapes to Hyderabad, handing Subhashini over to her father. Tom and Siddappa follow him there, and Raju begins to understand the concept of deityhood.

Determined to solve the mysterious deaths in Pali, Raju and Tom track down the responsible individuals, including the doctor who closed the medical camp, the dean who ordered the closure, and Govardhan. Through interrogations, Raju discovers that a nearby plastic factory is contaminating the villagers’ drinking water source, resulting in their deaths. He also learns that GK planned to marry Subhashini to his son to exploit her father’s sugarcane for plastic production. The scientist’s assistant reveals that an idol worshipped in Girdwala is made of valuable iridium, which GK intended to mine.

Realizing the truth, Raju confronts GK, who had killed the scientist and Bilavar to protect his secret. GK had lured Raju to Girdwala, planning to eliminate him as a witness. However, Raju survives and arrives in Pali with Siddappa. GK shoots and kills Siddappa, reducing the village’s population to 533. Enraged, Raju avenges his friend’s death and pursues GK. Ultimately, GK dies when a religious knife falls and fatally stabs him, fulfilling Raju’s curse. The Tantrik reveals that Raju has fulfilled his role as the village’s saviour, ensuring the population remains at 534 with the birth of a new baby. A flag is raised in celebration of the child’s arrival.