Review: Peddi: Ram Charan Shines in an Ambitious Tale of Identity and Determination!
In recent times, there has been considerable debate about non-citizens allegedly finding their way onto electoral rolls. Such concerns are alarming from the perspective of national security. In stark contrast, in 1996, nearly 18,000 villages across India remained invisible on official government records. These settlements had no recognized names, leaving thousands of residents without a formal identity. Without voter ID cards, official addresses, they were deprived of many rights and opportunities available to other citizens. They were, in essence, citizens without recognition in their own country. Around this premise, director Buchi Babu Sana has woven the story of Peddi, a sports drama spanning multiple disciplines.
The story unfolds in the Vizianagaram region of Andhra Pradesh, where Peddi (Ram Charan), a skilled jaggery worker, grows up in a village that lacks official recognition on government records. Gifted with exceptional cricketing talent, he earns a living by playing for local teams that offer him the highest fee. However, an ego clash with Rambujji (Divyendu Sharma) compels him to leave cricket and take up wrestling instead. His ultimate goal is to secure government recognition for his village and ensure that trains stop there. Peddi reaches the wrestling final, but his rivals, including Ravi Kishan’s character, brutally attack him and break his leg. Devastated at missing out on the gold medal, he refuses to give up and sets his sights on winning gold in the 400-metre race at the Paralympics. What follows forms the crux of the story.
The film is an amalgamation of too many ideas and themes. As a result, the screenplay feels overstretched, leading to a lengthy runtime of 189 minutes. While the first half moves at a brisk pace, the second half drags considerably, with numerous plot threads competing for attention. A.R. Rahman’s music and background score suit the narrative well. The cinematography is excellent, and the sports sequences are both visually impressive and convincingly executed. Janhvi Kapoor, who plays Peddi’s love interest, has very little screen time and largely functions as a decorative presence in the narrative. Moreover, the camera frequently focuses on her waist and navel, perhaps catering to a section of the mass audience. Ram Charan delivers an outstanding performance and undergoes remarkable physical transformations to portray the demands of the film’s three sporting disciplines. He emotes effectively, and the determination visible in his eyes convincingly conveys Peddi’s passion and resilience. The supporting cast also performs admirably and lends strong support to the narrative.
Rating: ***
By Keerti Kadam