Ram Charan is back on the big screen after the disappointing run of ‘Game Changer’, this time headlining a sports drama with ‘Peddi’.
Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film also features Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Boman Irani and Divyenndu in pivotal roles.
‘Peddi’ marks Ram Charan’s third release since the blockbuster success of ‘RRR’. However, none of his post-‘RRR’ films have managed to recreate the magic of the S S Rajamouli directorial.
While ‘Acharya’ opened to overwhelmingly negative reviews, ‘Game Changer’ fared even worse commercially.
Mounted on a reported budget of over Rs 450 crore, ‘Game Changer’ managed to earn only around Rs 190 crore worldwide, making it one of the biggest setbacks in the actor’s career.
Greatandhra brings to you the experience of watching the film live via tweet review.
Runtime: 189 minutes
The film opens with a conversation between a Sports Authority official, played by Boman Irani, and a minister, with both expressing concern over India’s poor Olympic record. Determined to find answers, Boman Irani’s character travels to a remote village. The story begins in 2016.
Ram Charan is introduced as Peddi, a sportsman-for-hire. His story is narrated by a villager, who recounts how Peddi emerged as a local sporting icon in the Vijayanagaram region during the early 1990s. Soon after this introduction, the energetic opening number, “Rai Raa Rai Raa,” kicks in.
Janhvi Kapoor enters as the daughter of a local politician, played by Rao Ramesh. Fun-filled scenes between her and Ram Charan follow, showcasing their chemistry. A kiss scene then takes place, after which the song “Chikiri Chikiri” follows.
The cricket match episode is well made and best scene.
The first half takes its time to establish the world of Peddi and its principal characters. It remains engaging for the most part, driven by strong performances though it feels slightly stretched in places. Ram Charan steals the show as a cricketer-for-hire, bringing tremendous energy and conviction to the role. The interval block ends on an emotional note, setting up the central drama around the wrestling match with the line: “Aata Maarindi.”