Chandu Champion Review: Kabir Khan’s Kartik Aaryan starrer film is inspiring and riveting

CHANDU CHAMPION

Producers- Kabir Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala

Director- Kabir Khan

Cast- Kartik Aryan, Shreyas Talpade, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Sonali Kulkarni, Anirudh Dave, Yashpal Sharma and Bhuvan Arora

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating:

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Based on a true story, the film celebrates the fascinating and surrealistic life of Murlikant Petkar, an army man and athlete, who won India its first Paralympic gold in 1972. The film captures his journey from childhood through his military service and culminates in his gold medal victory for India.

Petkar’s achievements and remarkable tryst with destiny lurked in anonymity, until he decided to claim the honour and respect, he deserved. Oscillating between past and present, the story takes us through Petkar’s life, right from the 1950’s to 2018, when he was finally awarded the Padmashri.

The inspiring-but-forgotten story of Murlikant Petkar, the first Indian to win a paralympic swimming gold (Heidelberg, 1972), fits right into Khan’s filmography. The inspiring as well as riveting saga tells us that he did not let anything– grinding poverty, being laughed at by friends and family, and horrific injuries in the ‘65 war which left him paralysed waist downwards– come in the way of his attaining his life-long goal.

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The narrative begins in 2017 with an elderly Murlikant Petkar (Kartik Aaryan) explaining to the police why he deserves the Arjuna Award, having won the gold medal for India. Hailing from Sangli’s Islampur village, young and ambitious Murlikant dreams of becoming a wrestler and winning gold at the Olympics.

As far as the performances are concerned, all that I can say is that Kartik Aryan is brilliant, and this is perhaps the best role that he has ever played in his career till date. Whether it is his gait, style of walking or dialogue delivery, each and every action of Kartik is mind-blowing on this male centric film which does not boast of a leading lady though Petkar had married with five children.

While Shreyas Talpade has been wasted in the role of a police inspector, Vijay Raaz is brilliant as Petkar’s coach while Sonali Kulkarni has given a spirited role as a journalist. Bhuvan Arora, as Petkar’s friend who guides him through his life is good while Rajpal Yadav is excellent. Yashpal Sharma impresses in a small role.

To sum up, Kabir Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala deserve kudos for making an attempt to uncover a forgotten slice of life film about an unsung hero.