Champion, the Telugu period drama by writer-director Pradeep Advaitham, in which the protagonist Michael Williams (Rohan Meka) is chasing his dream of migrating to England, is essentially a coming-of-age story. Sports is just a tool. The fictional story is narrated in the backdrop of the Bhairanpally revolt, at a time when Hyderabad had not merged with the newly-independent India post August, 1947. The intersection of war, identity, resilience and sports is a potent, interesting premise. However, the film never truly soars.
History has it that Bhairanpally in Telangana fiercely revolted against the Razakars, the Nizam’s private army, suffering brutalities in its wake. Pradeep imagines a happy-go-lucky young football player’s destiny being shaped by an unexpected turn of events in this milieu.
Cinematographer Madhie’s sepia-tinted visuals, Thota Tharani and Prakeerthi Uppalapati’s production design, Chandrakant Sonawane’s costumes, and Mickey J Meyer’s music that blends jazz and rustic charm, give Champion an understated yet artistic aesthetic. However, it takes a while for the narrative to find its rhythm and draw the viewers into its world.
Champion (Telugu)
Director: Pradeep Advaitham
Cast: Roshan Meka, Anaswara Rajan
Runtime: 169 minutes
Storyline: A football player finds himself caught in the uprising of a village, which in turn makes him question his ambitions.
A few aspects, though barely touched upon, hint at the multicultural ethos of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad at the time. Rohan’s character Michael hails from Secunderabad, known for its thriving Anglo Indian community. He plays for a football team named Secunderabad Blues. Kovai Sarala and Vennela Kishore are cast in brief parts of his family members who run an English-style bar and restaurant.
At first, Michael’s sports trajectory seems like a familiar underdog story, as he takes on an egoistic opponent who could ruin his chances of being selected to play in England. The plot gradually thickens. There’s the story of a father who is branded a traitor. At one point, Michael, who has grown up in a sheltered atmosphere without being exposed to the freedom movement, declares “I don’t belong here”.
It isn’t tough to predict the journey of his character — finding his true calling as a man who cannot turn away from standing up for those who care for him.
Arms, ammunition, and a turn of events lead him to Bhairanpally. The film finds its footing once Michael enters the dusty village where people are fighting to survive. Sports is a distant dream, a privilege.
The story is populated with several characters. While those representing the Razakars, the Hyderabad police force and the Nizam appear unidimensional, the natives of Bhairanpally lend the narrative some depth. Anaswara Rajan as Chandrakala, the village playwright and director, makes a striking debut in Telugu cinema, dubbing her own lines.
Michael’s transformation is unhurried. He is biding his time to get away from the village once his vintage truck is repaired. In these segments, the unhurried pace is not a deterrent, but the writing that never probes beyond the surface, is. The smaller events that add up before a key action episode and serve as a catalyst for his transformation aren’t engaging enough to make us root for either the village or Michael’s football dreams.
Several experienced actors, including Prakash Raj, Murali Sharma, Archana, Ravindra Vijay, Ranvir Shorey, Kay Kay Menon and Nandamuri Kalyan Chakravarthy are lost in the melee.
There are occasional bright moments. A case in point is the character of Ravindra Vijay as a journalist who looks beyond religious divisions, but the impact of his character does not register.
For the most part, the film is torn between wanting to be an emotionally-stepped tale of revolution and a platform to showcase Rohan’s potential as a rising star. He has a striking screen presence and shows promise, but the dialogue delivery and emotional turns need more work.
A cameo at a crucial point that marks Michael’s decisive turnaround also does not have the desired impact. Champion might have seemed like a terrific idea on paper but despite the 169-minute runtime, it does not explore the facets of the story well enough.
The segment that stands out is the war near the village watch tower, which portrays the grit and determination with which the natives take on mighty opponents.
Champion is earnest but could have benefitted with sharper writing and narrative skills.
Published – December 25, 2025 03:30 pm IST
