Chandu Champion

Another unsung hero…

Cast:  Kartik Aryan (Muralikant Petkar), Vijay Raaz (Tiger Ali) , Bhuvan Arora (Garnail Singh), Shreyas Talpade (Inspector Sachin Kamble), Rajpal Yadav (Topaz), Yashpal Sharma (Uttam Singh), Bhagyashree Borse (Nayantara, London based journalist), Sonali Kulkarni (Indian reporter), Brijendra Kala (Thief at police station), Aniruddh Dave (Jagannath Petkar)
Director: Kabir Khan
Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment
Release Date: 14th June 2024

Rating: 3.2/5

From Kabir Khan, of 83 fame, comes Chandu Champion,  a film based on the inspirational biography of army man and sportsperson Muralikant Petkar from The Army Boy’s Battalion and EME Corps of the Indian army. The film follows a chronology of sequences starting from his childhood in Sangli district, Maharashtra, where he picks up wrestling at the local Akhada from a young age. Forced to flee his village after he defeats the village head’s nephew, he gets picked up on a train to Pune by his subsequent colleague and friend, Garnail Singh.

The first half of the movie is oddly reminiscent of plotlines from Farhan Akhtar starrer Bhaag Milka Bhaag. From having an impromptu dance and song jig; Satyanaas and Chore Chore Waake . A hot female reporter who supposedly leads to Muralikant’s distraction/nazar hatna in the finals of the EME in Tokyo, to a comedic reaction to flying in an airplane for the first time, his awkwardness with using western cutlery and fumbling through English words in a western setting talks of very similar threads that have been explored in Bhaag Milka Bhaag.

Kartik Aryan’s performance, though by no means bad, fails to make an impactful mark with a mediocre performance in a role with scope to shine through for an Oscar or filmfare. Though he has worked hard to showcase a ripped and lean body, one wonders at the choice of Kartik Aryan to play a Cherubic and broad framed Muralikant. This is contrary to the superb casting genius employed by Kabir Khan in 83, from the mannerisms copied to replicating real life events to the “t” in the world cup. The same can’t be said for Chandu Champion, though we could probably attribute that to lack of footage to fall back on. Versatility regarding Muralikant participating and being proficient in various sports like Hockey, Table Tennis, Javelin Throw, Discus Throw as well have not been explored in the movie.

Would have liked to know the angle where he met and married his wife, it would have been an interesting insight into a chapter of his life. Some aspects of Chandu Champion that I liked: Chronologically mapping the events gives us a good clarity to the timeline in Muralikant’s life. His life is a stellar biography that is chosen for narration. The film has some real good inspirational quotes/dialogues which are delivered: “Machli ke bhi pair nahi hote, Paani kisiko nahin rokta”; “Woh Din Main Tay Kiya, Main Jiyega, Aur Uske Liye Jitna Ladna Padega Main Ladega..”, “Samajh Taras kispe Khayeghi, Nazar Regular Nahi hain na”. Chottu Chandu In the song “Jamoore” is a treat to watch. We have actors like Shreyas Talpade , Sonali Kulkarni and Brijendra Kala who make special appearances lending star power to the casting.

The turning point is post interval. During the J&K war in 1965, where Muralikant is fatally injured taking 9 bullets to his body. Here, a true story of grit and patience begins where you applaud the makers for a well chosen biography to be narrated to the audience. Under coma for two years at a hospital in Udhampur with no bladder control and a bullet lodged in his spine, Muralikant is then shifted to INHS Asvini hospital, Bombay. Depressed for being paralysed waist down for the rest of his life, Muralikant faces a bleak future confined to bed, bathroom and wheelchair. Still he enjoys a sturdy destiny; if there was one: He manages to survive and win the lottery while chugging an entire bottle of alcohol with 30 sleeping tablets, neat. Deciding that life is not done with him, he trains for the Paralympics in Swimming (a sport suggested to him for therapy) with his former boxing coach Tiger Ali.

Amidst trials and lack of funding (the same story regarding sports in India), Muralikant does compete in the 1972 Paralympics winning the gold and setting a world record in 50 m freestyle at 37.33 seconds. The Padma Shree received in 2018 was long overdue and definitely well deserved. An oversight from our government. Indeed, another example of belated glory being awarded is to Airforce MVC TK Vijaya, one of the protogonists in the movie Skyforce. You can read our review here.

Chandu Champion is definitely a watch as a tribute to India’s hero and a learning to never give up, of miracles in life, of finding a way if there is a will…  a lesson well learnt about a boy who was pelted with stones in his village but ends up paving roads against all odds. Ab Koi nahi hasega.