Listen to Story Release Date: 14 Jun, 2024 Watching the same basic story arcs you've seen dozens of times before in a brand-new film can still be deeply satisfying. It takes you back to the times when similar narratives left you feeling fulfilled after leaving the theatre. The catch, of course, is that the newest version has to be done well.
That's what Kabir Khan's Chandu Champion is: A formulaic film (a term which is in no way an insult), with tremendous performances from Kartik Aaryan and Vijay Raaz. Its story, about an underdog athlete who gets a chance at the world stage, has been told a hundred times before. Describing it would be a cliché from start to finish.
But Chandu Champion isn't about the story, it's about the hero. Murlikant Petkar, a war hero-turned-Paralympic champion, is a name only a few Indians would have heard, including myself. Inspired by KD Jadhav, the first athlete from independent India to win an individual medal in the Olympics, a young Murli carries the dream of having an Olympic gold medal around his neck one day.
But he is ridiculed for harbouring such a dream. Leaving behind all odds, this little boy grows up, in a fashion that will take you back to the 80s Bollywood when the lead hero grew up while running on a railway track. And this is the point where you start to get invested in the film.
Yes, it takes a while to get there. Khan follows all the tropes of underdog sports movies. There's an athlete who can't get anyone to take him seriously.
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