After a month of wait, Ram Charan's latest film Peddi has now locked a OTT premiere date on Netflix. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the sports drama released in theatres on June 4 to a massive opening for the actor and director, earning over Rs 135.36 crore gross worldwide. After three weeks of theatrical run, the film is now gearing up for a streaming release.
Set against the backdrop of Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, the story follows Peddi, a determined young man who dreams of bringing recognition to his village and its people. His journey takes him through different sporting disciplines, including cricket, wrestling, and para sports, as he battles numerous challenges to achieve his goal.
However, soon after its release, the film sparked massive controversy over the "hypersexualised" and "vulgar" portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor's character Achiyamma. It triggered a countrywide discourse on objectification of women in films with major A-listers including Nithya Menen, Jagapathi Babu, Tamannaah and many others weighing in on the debate. Director Buchi Babu Sana also issued a public statement acknowledging audience concerns and apologising for any unintended discomfort caused. The makers also made changes to the concerned portions of the film after reviewing audience reactions.
Despite the criticism and mixed reviews for its story and screenplay, Peddi earned over Rs 330 crore at the global box office.
An excerpt from our CE review of the film read, "Buchi Babu Sana made a promising debut with Uppena five years ago, and Peddi marks his second directorial venture. Credit must be given to Ram Charan for backing a story-driven sports drama instead of opting for a conventional commercial entertainer. His faith in the story and willingness to support the director are commendable. However, the film ultimately suffers because the director unnecessarily complicates the narrative with three different sports while failing to establish the emotional core." The film also stars Shivarajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu and Boman Irani in key roles.
On the technical team, the film has music by AR Rahman, cinematography by R Rathnavelu and editing by Naveen Nooli.
Peddi hits Netflix on July 9.