Chandu Champion review: Kartik Aaryan delivers a stellar act in Kabir Khan's sports drama

Chandu Champion Movie Review: We all love good sports biopics even if the narrative is predictable. There is something extremely inspirational about watching an individual fight the odds, achieve a long-standing dream, and bring glory to the country. Kabir Khan's latest, Chandu Champion narrates one such individual's story who, despite his achievements, was long forgotten by the country. Kartik Aaryan plays Muralikant Petkar who brought glory to India atthe German Paralympics in 1972 but never got his due credit in India until 2018 when he was finally awarded the Padma Shri.

The Story of Chandu Champion

Born to a poor family in Maharashtra, Murali joins the Indian Army in the 1960s with one sole aim - to represent India at the Olympics and win a gold for the country. Trained in wrestling in his village, his seniors advised him to train in boxing to compete at the Olympics. He is brought under the tutelage of coach Tiger Ali (Vijay Raaz) who eventually becomes his lifelong mentor and guide.Murali excels at the World Army Championship - considered a qualifier for the Olympics- he finishes second. Soon after, while being posted in Kashmir during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, he sustains severe bullet wounds and is left paralysed waist down. Rejected by his family, Murali then continues his reign at EME Secunderabad, where after being motivated by Ali, he starts training for the Paralympics as a swimmer.

The journey of winning againstthe odds and overcoming physical difficulty with multiple rejections is tough, but Murali's grit to win the coveted gold medal keeps him motivated.

Sports films usually follow a set pattern. The protagonist is introduced with a lot of raw, untapped talent which is honed by a super coach who not only mentors the individual to become one of the greatest sportsmen/women but also turns into a life coach. The story then also showcases how the protagonist has to fight the odds and overcome rejections and losses to emerge as the ultimate hero. Chandu Champion is no different but it is the story of a relatively unknown Muralikant Petkar and his amazing journey - written beautifully by Khan, Sumit Arora and Sudipto Sarkar that makes this film worth the ride.

You know how the story will pan out, yet it is the heartwarming storyof a man who rose from ashes and went on to win a gold - a first for India in the Paralympics- that sets Chandu Champion apart. Coupled with good writing and a very earnest performance by the leading man Kartik Aaryan, Chandu Champion keeps you glued to the seat.

Kartik Aaryan delivers a knockout performance

There's no denying that Kartik Aaryan has an effervescent charm that works like magic on screen. In Chandu Champion, he uses it to play the vulnerable, determined, innocent and naive Murali well. He is remarkably restrained, sheds his goofy, smart alec lover boy image to play a village simpleton who only knows one thing and has one motto in life. It's not easy to match up to Vijay Raaz in scenes- but the duo has some splendid scenes together- showcasing a teacher and a student's relationship through the years.

Aaryan's scenes of breakdown, where he talks of how it has been a long hard journey to reach his goal, and a scene involving his older brother and him talking about poverty, are so well done. Aaryan brings in the right amount of vulnerability and restraint to those scenes.

Bhuvan Arora, whom I had loved in Farzi last year, plays a small part. Wish he was utilised a bit more. It is a delight to watch the actor on screen.

There are multiple cameos. One involving Shreyas Talpade and Bajendra Kala bringsin the comedy, there is Sonali Kulkarni who plays a journalist who brings Murali's story to the world and Rajpal Yadav who plays an attendant at the Army hospital where Murali camps nearly for two years before becoming a champion.

Some of the silhouette shots are stunning and the battle scene, presumably a one-take (at the max two) shot is well executed.

What does not work

I have been a fan of Kabir Khan films for a long time. From his first feature film Kabul Express to his blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan to 83 - I have loved almost all his works and they have always left an impact. Chandu Champion, however,seems too generic to leave a lasting impression. Sure, it has Aaryan in top form but the predictability hinders the film from being memorable.

That apart, Chandu Champion tells an important story - of a man who disappeared into oblivion and India took years to find him and reward him for what he had done for the nation. It is a story for the ages and one that everyone should take inspiration from.