Champion Review: I watched Champion expecting very little. Christmas season, crowded releases, and honestly, this didn’t look like a film people would rush to theaters for. But here’s the thing, when I walked in, the show was almost house full. No advance booking. Last ticket. That alone tells you something worked.
My Rating: 3.0/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Champion |
| Language | Telugu |
| Genre | Historical Drama, Sports, Action |
| Director | Pradeep Adhikari |
| Producer | Vyjayanthi Movies |
| Cast | Roshann Meka, Anaswara Rajan, Avantika |
| Music Director | Mickey J. Meyer |
| Sports Element | Football |
| Runtime | Approx. 2 hours 45 minutes |
The First Half Drags — But the Interval Changes Everything
Let’s not pretend this movie is flawless. It isn’t. But it also isn’t forgettable, and that matters.
The first half? Honestly boring. I won’t sugarcoat it. If someone told me they nodded off a little before the interval, I’d believe them. The film only starts breathing about 10 minutes before the interval, and once it does, it doesn’t really let go.
From the interval onward, Champion becomes a completely different beast. The emotion hits harder. The background score finally shows its strength. The dialogues land. The action feels purposeful. And suddenly, you’re invested.
The Story (Without Spoilers)
The film is set around Bhairavampalli, a village that refuses to bow down to the Razakars during the Hyderabad struggle post-1947. A lot of people outside India, and even inside, forget this part of history. India got independence, but Hyderabad didn’t. The Nizam and the Razakars wanted a separate rule, and what followed was brutality. Real, documented brutality.
The movie doesn’t exaggerate that pain. If anything, it softens it for cinema. While most villages stayed silent out of fear, Bhairavampalli rebelled. That rebellion becomes dangerous because if one village speaks up, others will follow. That’s the fear. That’s the conflict.
Into this situation walks our hero, a footballer who gets stuck in the village and just wants to leave. Why he can’t, what pulls him back, and how football becomes a matter of life and death… that’s the heart of the film. I’ll stop there. Anything more would ruin it.
The “Champion” Problem
Here’s my biggest issue. The title. He’s called a Champion, but:
- He plays one football match.
- He’s constantly late.
- There’s barely any struggle shown behind his skill.
A champion isn’t just someone who plays well. A champion earns that name. I wish the film had spent more time showing how he became that good, instead of assuming we’d just accept it. To be honest, titles like Soldier, Sainik, or something rooted in the freedom struggle would’ve fit this story better.
Performances That Worked
The hero did a solid job. Nothing flashy, but emotionally grounded, especially in the second half. Some scenes genuinely gave me goosebumps, and yes, there were moments where my eyes got heavy.
The heroine, in her debut, surprised me. She doesn’t overdo anything. Her character, Geetanjali, comes and goes, but whenever she’s on screen, she feels honest. That matters more than screen time.
And that song again — “Girra Girra Girra Gingira Gira.” The way it’s used is smart. They don’t just play it start to finish. They pause it, cut into emotional moments, then bring it back. That rhythm worked beautifully.
Where the Film Slips
Not all songs work. In fact, except for that one song, most of the music feels like filler. The item song? Completely unnecessary. The same old routine, glamorous entry, crowd reaction, hero focus. It adds nothing to the story.
There’s also a subplot involving a girl being sent to another village for marriage, which leads to tragedy. Emotionally, it hits. Logically? It didn’t sit right with me. She was safer where she was.
And one more missed opportunity, When they hinted at the hero’s father, I genuinely thought they were building a deeper connection to the freedom struggle, possibly inspired by Subhas Chandra Bose. That could’ve taken the film to another level. Instead, it stayed surface-level. That disappointed me.
Also Read: Mark Movie Review: One Night, No Rules, Only Kiccha Sudeep
Good vs Bad – Quick Breakdown
| What Works | What Doesn’t |
|---|---|
| Second half emotion | Weak, slow first half |
| Historical backdrop | Misleading title |
| Background score post-interval | Forgettable songs (except one) |
| Climax football sequence | Forced item song |
| Heroine’s natural performance | Missed depth in father’s backstory |
The Climax Saves It
The final act is where Champion earns its watch. Football becomes more than a game. Lives are on the line. The hero leaves… then comes back.
That return hits emotionally because the film planted that seed earlier. The surprise that follows keeps you glued, and by the end, you’re glad you stayed.
Final Verdict
Champion is not a perfect film. It’s uneven. It’s flawed. It tests your patience early on. But it also has heart. And when it works, it really works. If you’re interested in historical dramas, emotional storytelling, or just want to see how one village’s courage is portrayed on screen, this is worth a watch, especially for the second half.
And yes, that song alone might already be playing in your head.