Movie Name: Champion
Rating: 2.5/5
Cast: Roshan Meka, Anaswara Rajan, Kalyana Chakravarthy, Kay Kay Menon, Santhosh Pratap, Kovai Sarala, and others
Director: Pradeep Advaitham
Produced By: Priyanka Dutt, Gemini Kiran, Umesh Kr Bansal
Release Date: 25th December 2025
Champion comes from the production house that delivered Kalki 2898 AD, Mahanati, Sita Ramam, and Jathi Ratnalu. Starring Meka Roshan as the lead, the period drama marks the Telugu debut of Malayalam actress Anaswara Rajan. It generated considerable buzz with its promotional materials, and now we will see if it delivers on its promise in this review.
Story:
Set against the backdrop of Nizam-ruled Hyderabad, Champion tells the story of Michael C. Williams (Roshan), a young man who is a footballer and wants to settle in London. His journey brings him to Bhairanpally village, where the locals are bravely resisting the atrocities of the Nizam’s rule. How Michael becomes part of their struggle forms the core of the story.
Performances:
Roshan looks good on screen and puts in sincere effort in every scene. However, his performance could have been stronger if his character had been better written. Anaswara Rajan looks beautiful and performs well, but her role does not offer much scope or importance.
Nandamuri Kalyan Chakravarthy plays a key role, but it lacks strong emotional impact. Talented actors like KK Menon and Ranveer Shorey appear in important roles, but their characters feel dull and underwritten. Naresh is hardly noticeable, while Murali Sharma, Santosh Pratap, Ravindra Vijay, and others deliver decent performances.
Analysis:
Champion is written and directed by Pradeep Advaitham, who also handled the story, screenplay, and dialogues. The film opens with a historical setting, showing the conflict between the Indian government and the Razakars, along with a brief overview of post-independence Hyderabad. The opening creates a good initial impact, but the film soon becomes ordinary. When the hero reaches Bhairanpally, there is hope that the story will become engaging, but the narration feels slow and dragged, except for the portions around the “Gira Gira Gingira” song. The interval episode is better and raises expectations for the second half.
The second half is more focused, but the director delays involving the hero in the villagers’ fight. As a result, the audience does not fully connect with his personal goal or his emotional bond with the villagers. However, a few scenes are well executed, especially the football challenge sequence. The Bhairanpally attack and massacre scene in the climax delivers the required emotional impact.
Positives:
- Main Plot
- A Few Important Scenes
- Last 30 Minutes
Negatives:
- Inconsistent Screenplay
- Lifeless Emotions
- Dragged Scenes
Champion Review and Verdict:
Overall, Champion is an honest attempt based on a real-life incident. The film benefits from good technical values, a few emotional moments, and a strong final thirty minutes. However, the rest of the film suffers from an inconsistent tone and slow narration.