Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4
Genre: Bio-pic
Year: 2024
Running time: 2 hours 22 minutes
Director: Kabir Khan
Cast: Karthik Aryan, Vijay Raaz, Bhuvan Arora
Kid rating: PG-15
There have been many Hindi movies which are made on the lives of famous sportsmen, swimmers and soldiers. Chandu Champion is another. It is the real life story of Murlikant Petkar, who was born in great poverty, in a small, rural village and became a champion wrestler in the village.
Then he joined the Army, trained to become a boxer and actually represented India in the Asian games. During a war, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Then he decided to take up swimming and was so good at it that he actually won an Olympic gold medal In the para-olympics.
It is a remarkable and true story of great indetermination, passion and courage.
Chandu Champion is made by director Kabir Khan who while he does do the job (his films are entertaining enough – Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Ek Tha Tiger, New York) is not quite known for nuance or fine detail. The film is a typical Kabir Khan product – well-made and competently put together. The pace is good. You will not be bored.
I am not a great big fan of Karthik Aryan, although this is is probably his finest role; I had no idea he could act like that. I did enjoy Vijay Raaz’s role as Petkar’s Army supervisor, and also coach, later in life. Raaz, as always, is magnificent. Bhuvan Arora (you might remember him from Farzi), as Petkar’s close friend Jarnail Singh, also does a commendable job.
As a member of the audience, you are quite awed by Petkar’s immense courage and resilience. Towards the end of the film, they do show real life clips of the actual man and his life.
Chandu Champion is a good enough watch. It does not boast of any major stars save Aryan. The film is interesting because of the real life story, but while holding your interest for it’s length, doesn’t leave you quite rah-rah. This is interesting if tepid cinema.
Kidwise: Pretty clean.
