Champion Review: A Visually Appealing Film with Historical Flavor
Sarkar Rating : 2.75/5 Release Date : Dec 25, 2025
Cast
Roshan Meka, Anaswara Rajan, Nandamuri Kalyan Chakravarthy and others
Crew
Director : Pradeep Advaitham
Producers : Priyanka Dutt, GK Mohan, Gemini Kiran
Music Director : Mickey J Meyer
Cinematographer : Madhie ISC
Editor : Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
What Is the Film About?
Champion traces the journey of Michael (Roshan), a young man whose dream of playing football in London unexpectedly draws him into the Bhairanpally rebellion against the atrocities of the Nizam’s regime. As circumstances push him deeper into the freedom struggle, Michael gradually becomes an active participant in the fight rather than just a silent observer. This, in essence, forms the crux of the story.
Performances
Roshan looks presentable on screen and puts in sincere effort, but Champion demands far more than what he is currently capable of delivering. The role feels prematurely heavy for him. His age and physicality work against the character, making it difficult to fully accept him as a commanding central figure. He often comes across more like a boy caught in events rather than a convincing leader within a historical setup. That said, Roshan shows promise, and with age-appropriate roles and stronger writing, he could make a better impact in the future.
Anaswara Rajan’s dubbing feels awkward and distracting from her very first scene. Performance-wise, she manages decently, but the role itself is thinly written and doesn’t demand much emotional or dramatic depth. As a result, her presence neither elevates nor harms the narrative in any significant way.
Analysis
Written and directed by Pradeep Advaitham, who also handles the story, screenplay, and dialogues, Champion opens with a promising historical setup. The film briefly touches upon post-independence Hyderabad, the Razakars, and the tension between the Indian government and the Nizam’s forces. Unfortunately, this backdrop is never explored with the depth or intensity it deserves.
The first half quickly slips into dull and uninspired territory. Once Michael is introduced, the film attempts to juggle his covert involvement in arms delivery with his dream of moving to London as a footballer. However, the narrative remains shallow and fails to build intrigue or emotional investment. The interactions between the lead pair, along with the occasional stage-play sequences, add little value and feel flat throughout. Except for one song that briefly stands out, the entire first half unfolds in a largely monotonous manner. Even the interval point lacks impact, offering no real hook to raise expectations for the second half.
The second half only exposes the film’s weaknesses further. While a couple of scenes are executed competently, the overall direction lacks conviction. The climax, which aims to deliver a message before settling into a routine finish, fails to leave any lasting impression. The core problem lies in the weak writing—be it the conflicts, emotional beats, or character motivations. Despite being technically sound and visually polished, Champion ends up feeling hollow. Barring one or two scenes and a couple of songs, the film struggles to generate interest. The experience feels lifeless, weighed down by its own lack of energy and engagement.
Overall, Champion may look visually competent, but its weak storytelling and unconvincing direction make it a dull watch, ultimately failing to live up to its powerful title.
Performances by Other Actors
Nandamuri Kalyan Chakravarthy plays a significant role, but the character feels underdeveloped and ineffective due to poor writing. KK Menon’s brief appearance is the biggest letdown. Casting such a talented actor only to waste his potential in an inconsequential role is baffling. Santosh Pratap and a few others deliver serviceable performances, but none of them leave a strong enough impact to merit special mention.
Music and Other Departments
Mickey J. Meyer composes the music and delivers one chartbuster, along with a couple of decent songs that are visually well-presented on screen. The background score is uneven but never completely falls apart. Madhie’s cinematography stands out as one of the film’s biggest strengths. Despite evident budgetary constraints, he ensures the film looks neat and visually appealing throughout. Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao could have been tighter, as the film drags in several portions. Production values from Swapna Cinema are satisfactory and appropriate for a film of this scale, aimed at attracting audiences to theatres.
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