Peddi Movie Review:

Indian cinema has produced several memorable sports dramas over the years, and Telugu cinema too has witnessed many films set against a sporting backdrop. Director Buchi Babu Sana now joins that list with Peddi, starring Ram Charan in the lead role. The makers promoted the film as more than just a sports drama, describing it as an emotional and inspirational story.

Director: Buchi Babu Sana

Cast: Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, Shivarajkumar, Divyendu, Boman Irani, Tarak Ponnappa, Ravi Kishan, Upendra Limaye, and others.

Regardless of whether a film is based on sports, a commercial subject, or pure entertainment, the audience must connect with it. It is not about the amount of money invested or the number of actors involved; the primary goal should always be to entertain and engage viewers.

While Allu Arjun’s character in Pushpa fights for recognition and identity, Ram Charan’s Peddi struggles to earn a name for himself and bring recognition to his village. Buchi Babu Sana has written a story that revolves around three sporting disciplines — cricket, wrestling, and para sports — through the journey of the protagonist. When dealing with such subjects, the narrative needs to be both believable and emotionally engaging.

Moreover, when a film is mounted on a massive budget involving hundreds of crores, the director needs to be even more careful. Films like Chak De! India succeeded because, despite being set against a hockey backdrop, they were rooted in strong emotions that resonated with audiences. Lagaan used cricket as its backdrop and connected brilliantly with viewers, while Dangal transformed a wrestling story into one of Indian cinema’s biggest successes. Similarly, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag captured audiences through its emotional portrayal of athlete Milkha Singh’s life. What made these films work was their authenticity, realism, and emotional depth.

In Peddi, however, Buchi Babu combines elements of all these sports but misses the most important ingredient — emotion. The story did not require three different sports and could have worked effectively with just one. Instead, the protagonist moves from one sport to another rather abruptly, without sufficient emotional or narrative justification.

Despite featuring a large ensemble cast of nearly 60 to 70 actors, the film revolves almost entirely around Ram Charan, leaving little room for anyone else to make an impact during its three-hour-and-nine-minute runtime. Producer Venkata Satish Kilaru makes his debut with Peddi under the Vriddhi Cinemas banner, while Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings are also associated with the project.

The story is set in and around Vizianagaram during the late 1990s. Peddi (Ram Charan) lives in a remote village located near the hills. The village has not been officially recognised by the government, leaving its residents without a proper identity. Appalasuri (Jagapathi Babu), a fellow villager, tirelessly fights for recognition and repeatedly approaches government officials in an attempt to secure a railway stop for a train passing through the village.

Peddi plays cricket and represents either Bobbili or Vizianagaram, depending on who pays him more. Apart from cricket, he works as a labourer at a jaggery manufacturing unit. His cricketing skills have made him a popular figure in the region.

One day, he sees Achayamma (Janhvi Kapoor), the daughter of a local MLA, and instantly falls in love with her. A confrontation related to Achayamma leads to a fallout with those who provide him opportunities in cricket. During a subsequent match, both teams indulge in match-fixing, leaving Peddi helpless and unable to help his side win. Disillusioned by the experience, he decides to leave cricket behind and turn to wrestling. Gourinaidu (Shivarajkumar), a respected wrestling coach known for training several champions, initially rejects Peddi’s request to join his academy. However, after some persuasion, he accepts him as a student. Peddi gradually emerges as a talented wrestler and earns the opportunity to compete at the national level in Delhi. What happens in Delhi? Does Peddi achieve success in wrestling? More importantly, does he succeed in bringing recognition to himself and his village? The answers unfold on the big screen.

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.

One of the biggest flaws appears right at the beginning. Boman Irani’s character, a sports advisor, arrives in Vizianagaram and enquires about Peddi. A villager then narrates Peddi’s story to him. The problem is that Peddi is supposedly a celebrated Paralympic gold medallist with international recognition. It feels illogical that a veteran sports advisor associated with the sports ministry would know so little about him. Had the story been narrated to a stranger, it would have been understandable, but in this context, the logic simply does not hold.

Another major drawback is the film’s excessive focus on Ram Charan. From beginning to end, the narrative revolves solely around his character, his struggles, victories, emotions, and dance sequences. Despite the presence of dozens of actors, hardly anyone gets an opportunity to deliver a memorable performance or impactful dialogue.

For a film running over three hours, supporting characters should have played a more significant role. Instead, most of them appear briefly and then fade into the background, particularly in the second half. Janhvi Kapoor’s character is another disappointment. Apart from a few scenes and songs, she has little relevance to the narrative and virtually disappears from the second half.

The film also struggles with authenticity. Since the story is set in the Vizianagaram region of Uttarandhra, the local dialect and mannerisms are important. While some actors manage the accent well, many others do not. In an attempt to create a pan-India appeal, the director casts actors from different industries, resulting in noticeable dubbing issues and mismatched lip-sync that often make the film feel like a dubbed version.

Even talented actors such as Rao Ramesh are severely underutilised, appearing only in a handful of scenes. The special song adds little value, while the protagonist’s transition from one sport to another lacks sufficient conflict and emotional justification.

Competing at the international level, especially in para sports, is not an easy journey. However, the film treats this progression rather casually. The protagonist quickly moves from national-level competition to an international para-marathon without adequately showing the effort, struggle, or process involved.

The film’s biggest issue remains its inability to generate emotional investment. While the sports elements are plentiful, the emotional highs and inspirational moments never reach the level they should. At several points, the narrative becomes repetitive and overstretched.

That said, the central idea itself is appealing. Peddi’s determination to secure recognition for his village and ensure that trains stop there provides a meaningful social message. One of the film’s most effective dialogues comes when Peddi says, “It’s not that I keep winning; I keep fighting.” Had the director focused more deeply on this central conflict and built the story around it, the film could have been far more impactful.

When it comes to performances, Ram Charan is undoubtedly the film’s biggest strength. His dedication and commitment are visible in every frame. He delivers a sincere and mature performance, excelling in several emotionally demanding scenes. Unfortunately, the weak screenplay and uneven narration prevent his efforts from translating into a stronger overall film. This is a story-driven project, and Ram Charan deserves credit for setting aside his star image and embracing such a role. His physical transformation is impressive and adds credibility to the character.

Shivarajkumar gets a substantial role and brings dignity and gravitas to the film. His portrayal of Gourinaidu is one of the highlights. Jagapathi Babu, however, occasionally appears overdramatic and could have benefited from a more restrained approach. Janhvi Kapoor is largely limited to glamour and songs, with little else to contribute. Boman Irani, though a capable actor, struggles with the language, making some portions less convincing. Divyendu’s presence also feels underutilised. Rao Ramesh and several other talented actors are wasted in underwritten roles.

AR Rahman’s music does not leave the impact expected from a composer of his stature. While the songs gained popularity before release, they work on screen mainly because of Ram Charan’s energetic dance performances.

Art director Avinash Kolla deserves special appreciation for creating convincing sets that resemble real locations. Cinematographer Ratnavelu captures the landscapes beautifully and handles the cricket and wrestling sequences effectively. However, the film suffers technically in several places, with inconsistent sound design, unclear dialogues, and dubbing issues that affect the viewing experience.

Ultimately, Peddi belongs entirely to Ram Charan, whose performance carries the film from start to finish. This is not a typical commercial entertainer but a story-driven drama that relies heavily on its emotional core. Unfortunately, director Buchi Babu Sana fails to narrate the story effectively, missing several logical and emotional opportunities along the way. Despite its flaws, Ram Charan’s performance remains the film’s biggest strength. The film may appeal to his fans, who will enjoy his screen presence, transformation, and songs, but for general audiences, it struggles to leave a lasting impact.