So, on 14th of June the much-awaited Kabir Khan directed film “Chandu Champion” released. An inspiring tale, based on the life of Padma Shri recipient Mr. Murlikant Petkar. The film begins in the early 1950s, kid Murlikant is taken to Karad Station to see Khashaba Jadhav as he returns from a historic Olympic win. Little Murli unaware of things, decides to win the Olympic Gold Medal for India and enters Kusti ka akhada. Grown-up Murli (Kartik Aaryan) is teased as “Chandu Champion” by locals and is called Kaccha Limbu by his own coach. The perception changes when he bears the opponent Pahalwan in a fight that he was supposed to lose, and then he is ran out of the village, only to find a new direction for his career – the Army. In the Army, Murli is guided by Tiger Ali (Vijay Raaz) in the boxing ring and becomes a sensation at the Olympics. With Gold being close to him, Murli loses his concentration due to glamour and glitter around him and loses the final. In 1965 war, he is hit by 9 bullets but still survives, only to be left with paralyzed legs. Will he be able to complete his dream of winning gold for India? Here’s me telling you the good and bad aspects of the film so that you guys can ultimately decide whether to watch it in theatres or not?
The film is an intelligently disguised story of a man whom history cannot faze out easily. Murlikant Petkar’s life story has the right ingredients for a clever biopic which Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora and Sudipto Sarkar have executed with delectable imagination. At no point does the film scatter in terms of story or intention, steering close to the relevant facts. Khan rightfully reuses his trademark style of narration which works to enhance the film’s tempo by absorbing your attention into it even more.
The story’s melodrama is restricted, keeping the dramatic bits plain. It is painful to see the 1965 WAR sequence of the story which have been carried out remarkably. In a particular sequence, where Murlikant Petkar urinates in his pants after his entire lower body has been paralyzed is the most fearsome portrayal of wretchedness! The story’s tainted scenes weave the haunting air fantastically and yet the cherish able moments maintain the story’s sheen. A couple of scenes are beyond the dimensions of cinematic marvel and ooze innocence wrapped in simplistic story telling!
From the glee of winning his first Olympic match to when he loses the final match in Tokyo to when he falls down crying the pent-up tears of years, the story’s terrain is smartly packed with judicious amounts of highs and lows, making the film’s recipe flawless.
Kartik Aaryan has immersed in himself the soul of Murlikant Petkar. Giving the best work of his career, he is resplendent as Murlikant Petkar. He brings out Murlikant’s vulnerability with charm and his passion with force. There is comfortable and effortless energy Kartik infuses in his role which makes me sure no one could have played it better than him. The actor will impress you with the work he has done on his physique. He has drawn a believable, grounded and exemplary picture of a man whose story people are less fluent with. With this unblemished portrayal, Kartik will astound you!
Vijay Raaz shines through every scene with a first-rate work and amazes you with his easy confidence.
The rest of the cast – Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, and Hemangi Kavi even in their little roles do spotlessly well.
After Tubelight, Kabir Khan faced a stark low and with 83 & Chandu Champion he makes up as he has easily matched the high of Bajrangi Bhaijaan. His homage to the forgotten hero is an epic, with him caressing every detail with research and fondling every emotion through the film’s journey with tenderness. His storytelling still has the sparkling vision, and his style has the ability to keep you latched to the screens.
The story’s strength is in its reality and Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora and Sudipto Sarkar has ensured that the screenplay rightfully fits in every bit coherently. The editing is so lucid that the 2 hours plus runtime isn’t tedious at any point. Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora and Sudipto Sarkar with their skilled craftsmanship has weaved a tapestry of sheer compelling genius out of the life of an unsung yesteryear sports personality!
The background score by Julius Packiam in wonderful and Pritam’s songs croon with beauty!
Chandu Champion will have you captivated with its grit and enigma. Made with panache, it’s hard to take your eyes off Kartik Aaryan, who enriches Murlikant Petkar as a surreal charismatic figure beyond the realms of flesh and blood! I am going with a 4/5 and applause for the film’s team. This one is so moving and scintillating that such films are a reward to the audiences for bearing through the fiascoes!
Chandu Champion is one of those rare films which are hard to forget long after you are done with them. This Kabir Khan biopic based on the magnetic life of athlete Murlikant Petkar, is all about pluses that champions the spirit of human living! Watch it for Kartik Aaryan who impeccably replicates the soul of Murlikant Petkar and leaves you with goosebumps!
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