Movie: Champion
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Swapna Cinema, Zee Studios, Anandi Art Creations, Concept Films
Cast: Roshan, Anaswara Rajan, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Kovai Sarala, Vennela Kishore, Murali Sharma, and others
Music: Mickey J Meyer
DOP: Madhie
Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Production Designer: Thota Tharani
Action: Peter Hein
Producers: Priyanka Dutt, GK Mohan, Gemini Kiran
Written and Direction: Pradeep Advaitham
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Top production houses like Swapna Cinema and Anandi Art Creations are backing the film, and the fact that it marks the official debut of Roshan — son of actors Srikanth and Ooha — as the lead hero has generated considerable hype. Adding to the buzz, stars such as Ram Charan, Prabhas, and Vijay Deverakonda have also extended their support by promoting the film. Amid all this anticipation, Champion has now arrived in theatres.
Let’s analyse how it fares.
Story:
Set in 1948, when the Nizam of the Hyderabad State refused to accede to India, the village of Bhairanpally emerges as a strong centre of resistance against the Nizam and the Razakars. Michael Williams (Roshan), who has no connection to the village, accidentally lands there after agreeing to smuggle guns from Secunderabad to another village.
Michael’s sole intention is to earn money from this risky mission to fund his dream of flying to London and playing football for Manchester Football Club. However, circumstances draw him into the villagers’ uprising.
How an outsider like Michael becomes an integral part of Bhairanpally’s revolt forms the crux of the story.
Artistes’ Performances:
Roshan looks handsome and is well-suited to the role of Michael, a charming footballer unexpectedly drawn into a violent uprising. His dialogue delivery in the Telangana accent stands out. Although the role is demanding for a newcomer, Roshan manages to leave a positive impression with his screen presence and sincere performance.
Anaswara Rajan plays a familiar village belle character and delivers a passable performance. Kalyan Chakravarthy, as Raji Reddy, commands the screen with authority. While his slang could have been more authentic, he brings gravitas and dignity to the role.
The supporting cast performs admirably, with Prakash Raj as Sardar Patel, KK Menon as Qasim Rizvi, and Murali Sharma as Puchalapalli Sundaraiah adding significant weight.
Technical Excellence:
Mickey J Meyer’s music has already struck a chord with audiences, especially the viral number “Gira Gira.” The songs blend well into the narrative and work effectively on screen.
Madhie’s cinematography is one of the film’s biggest strengths, capturing the period atmosphere with finesse. His visuals, complemented by veteran production designer Thota Tharani’s detailed artwork, successfully recreate the essence of old Telangana.
Highlights:
Roshan’s screen presence
Gira Gira song
Drawback:
Many dull moments
Flat narration
The revolt lacks dramatic effect
Excessive runtime
Analysis
Pradeep Advaitham’s “Champion” attempts to narrate the true story of Bhairanpally, a village in the erstwhile Warangal district that revolted against the brutal Razakars, the private militia of the Nizam. The massacre carried out by the Razakars and the villagers’ resistance are rooted in history.
However, historical episodes need engaging and emotionally resonant storytelling to make them palpable for contemporary audiences. This is where Pradeep Advaitham falls short.
While the director takes cinematic liberties and dramatises the events to make the narrative accessible to a wider audience, the film never fully embraces a commercial format. The limitations imposed by sticking closely to historical incidents restrict the storytelling, resulting in a narrative that struggles to balance authenticity with cinematic appeal.
Introducing an outsider’s perspective through Roshan’s character into the Bhairanpally uprising takes considerable time. Although his arrival in the village is staged with effective drama, the subsequent sequences—particularly those involving Anaswara Rajan’s stage play and the villagers’ prolonged suspicion of the hero—stretch the runtime without offering sufficient engagement. These portions needed sharper execution and tighter writing.
The romantic track between Roshan and Anaswara Rajan lacks the required spark. Unlike “Lagaan,” where the romance between Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh added charm and warmth to the narrative, the love story here feels flat and uninvolving. Given Roshan’s strong screen presence, greater care should have been taken to make this thread more appealing instead of focusing on repetitive sequences and unnecessary subplots involving other characters.
That said, the second half does offer a few noteworthy moments. The backstory involving Roshan and his father—featuring a brief cameo by Dulquer Salmaan—adds depth to the narrative. Another standout segment is the depiction of the villagers’ battle against the powerful Razakars, which is staged effectively. However, the emotional impact is undercut by an extended climax that dilutes the overall intensity.
Period and historical films often risk resembling documentaries, and directors frequently face the dilemma of how far to commercialise such narratives. The key lies in striking a balance between engaging storytelling and historical integrity. Unfortunately, Champion suffers from weak writing, a sluggish pace, and an avoidable lengthy runtime.
Overall, “Champion,” despite its sincere intent and historical relevance, fails to consistently engage. The underwhelming narration makes the film feel tedious at times. Roshan’s screen presence and the music stand out as the few positives in an otherwise uneven effort.
Bottom-line: Not Engaging