Champion, based on the 1948 Bairan Palli incident, stars Roshan Meka in his lead role and introduces Anaswara to Telugu audiences. Made on a big budget, the film showcases the tragedy and the villagers bravery as depicted by director Pradeep Advaitham.
Champion Story: Michael (Roshan Meka) dreams of going to England to play football, but his father’s strictness stands in the way. To achieve his goal, he ends up delivering guns in Bidar. Unexpectedly trapped in Bairan Palli, the events that follow form the story of the film Champion.
Performances: Roshan Meka shows notable growth as an actor, with confident looks, precise dialogue delivery, and natural ease. He still needs better control over when to heighten or tone down emotions, which could make his future very promising. Among the supporting cast, Racha Ravi shines, getting a strong role that showcases his acting beyond comedy.
Anaswara Rajan impresses in her dubbing and performance. Nandamuri Kalyan Chakravarthy’s presence is strong but dialogue delivery and accent fall short. Others like Balagam Sanjay, Archana, Kay Kay Menon, and Murali Sharma do justice to their roles.
Technical Aspects: Mickey J. Meyer’s music and background score work well, with the song Gira Gira playing a key role in engaging the audience. Cinematography is good, but the CGI fails to support it, making some visuals appear weak. Costumes and art direction are solid, yet the graphics and action sequences feel underwhelming despite a Rs. 40 crore budget.
Director Pradeep Advaitham’s idea of blending football with the Bairan Palli incident is strong, but he fails to fully capture the tragedy’s gravity. While heroism is highlighted, the true emotional impact of the incident isn’t fully realized, and a more sincere screenplay could have elevated the film.
Analysis: Champion lacks world-building, but strong performances, Mickey Meyer’s music, and cinematography lift it. Historical accuracy is limited, and CGI could be better, yet Roshan’s acting and key emotional scenes make it worth watching.
Verdict: Despite flaws in storytelling and world-building, Champion works for Roshan’s earnest performance, strong music, and engaging visuals. A good attempt.
Bottom Line: Theater experience lifts this decent film.
Rating: 3/5
