Chandu Champion - Genuine but Ineffective

Movie: Chandu Champion
Rating: 2.5/5

Cast:  Kartik Aryan, Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, Aniruddh Dave and others

Director: Kabir Khan
Produced By: Sajid Nadiwala, Kabir Khan

Release Date: 14th June 2024

Story:

The film delves into the extraordinary journey of Murlikant Petkar, a role brilliantly portrayed by Kartik Aaryan. Petkar's story is not just about winning a gold medal in the Paralympics, but about his indomitable spirit that propelled him to conquer every hurdle. His unwavering dedication and refusal to surrender etched his name in the annals of history, leaving an indelible mark.

Performances:

Kartik has effectively performed with his captivating presence and accurate portrayal of a sportsman, enhancing the overall performance. Shreyas Talpade and Rajpal Yadav, in their brief appearances, leave a subtle impression and deliver as expected. Meanwhile, Bhuvan Arora and Vijay Raaz elevate the first half and the latter part of the film, evoking empathy for their characters.

What worked for the film:

Kartik Aaryan's sincere portrayal is a significant highlight of the film, particularly in his scenes alongside Vijay Raaz as Tiger Ali, the coach. His performance adds depth to the first half and enhances Petkar's character. Though predictable, the emotional build-up toward the climax works well and provides a satisfactory impact.

What did not work for the film:

Kabir Khan elevated the level of creative freedom by providing an extensive amount of detail in two hours and 23 minutes, resulting in a slow-paced narrative. Unfortunately, this approach did not positively affect the film, as the frequent jumps in timelines left each episode feeling somewhat incomplete. While Petkar (Kartik) rushes to court and narrates the story to Shreyas Talpade's character in a police station, the summary provided may only partially satisfy the viewers. The abrupt endings of each episode result in the impact failing to resonate for an extended period. Chandu Champion follows the most predictable route of all the sports biopics of Bollywood, which does not let the film deliver the emotional output that it intended to. 

Chandu Champion Review and Verdict:

Chandu Champion strives to bring back the inspiring but overlooked tale of Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold medalist. Clearly, there is intent and dedication, but the standard, ordinary narrative makes the film shine only in specific moments. Kartik Aaryan performed excellently, supported by Vijay Raaz and others.  

Chandu Champion Review and Verdict: