Peddi Review: Ram Charan’s show all the way, climax the payoff

What’s Peddi About?

Set against the backdrop of rural Andhra Pradesh, “Peddi” unfolds through a flashback narrative. In 2016, a representative from a national sports academy (Boman Irani) arrives in Vizianagaram on a talent-hunting mission after a minister reprimands official for failing to identify athletes capable of bringing Olympic glory to India. As he travels through the region, he repeatedly hears the name Peddi spoken with reverence. Intrigued by the legend surrounding the man, he begins to piece together Peddi’s extraordinary story through the recollections of a local resident.

The story then shifts to the early 1990s, to a remote settlement nestled at the foothills of a mountain. Despite being home to hundreds of people, the village has no official name and does not exist in government records. Its residents live without even the most basic form of identity or recognition.

Among them is Peddi (Ram Charan), a spirited young man who works at a sugar factory and earns extra money as an “aata kooli” – a player-for-hire who competes in local cricket matches. He is also in love with Achiyamma (Janhvi Kapoor), the daughter of the village sarpanch. When he comes to her rescue during an incident that threatens to humiliate her, their love blossoms into a mutual romance.

Meanwhile, Appalasuri (Jagapathi Babu), a villager, has spent years campaigning for a railway halt in the area. To him, the railway stop represents more than just connectivity; it symbolizes recognition, development, and a long-overdue identity for the forgotten village. When a tragic turn of events shakes the community, Peddi takes it upon himself to carry forward Appalasuri’s dream.

What follows is an inspiring journey that transforms Peddi from a talented village youth and mercenary cricketer into a celebrated sportsman. Under the guidance of his mentor (Shiva Rajkumar, he evolves into a wrestler, competes at the national level, and eventually finds himself on a path that leads all the way to Delhi.

Analysis

With “Peddi”, director Buchi Babu attempts something more ambitious than a conventional sports drama. At its core, the film is a blend of sports, social commentary, and emotional storytelling. The protagonist’s journey follows a familiar cinematic template: a carefree young man who lives for the moment gradually transforms into a figure capable of bringing meaningful change to his community. It is a tried-and-tested narrative arc, but one that still holds emotional appeal when executed effectively.

For Peddi, sports initially serve as a source of pride and personal gratification. As reflected in the phrase “Aate Naa Pogaru”, his sporting talent is less about purpose and more about self-expression. However, when tragedy strikes his village, sports take on a larger meaning. What begins as a personal pursuit evolves into a quest for identity, recognition, and dignity, both for himself and for the forgotten community he represents. In that sense, the film gradually shifts from being a commercial sports entertainer to a story about belonging and social empowerment.

The intention is appreciable. The broader idea is compelling and emotionally resonant. Where the film falters, however, is in its writing, execution and narrative design.

The first major misstep is the narrative device involving Boman Irani’s character. The film opens with a sports academy representative arriving in Vizianagaram in search of athletic talent. As the story unfolds through a lengthy flashback, the premise begins to feel increasingly unconvincing. Since Peddi’s achievements are already part of history by 2016 and include winning glory for India, it is difficult to accept that a senior sports official would have no knowledge of him. What initially appears to be a routine narrative device eventually becomes one of the film’s biggest logical inconsistencies.

Even if one overlooks such issues, other problems emerge.

The film spends a considerable amount of time establishing the romance between Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. Unfortunately, these portions are formulaic and contribute little to the central narrative.

It is only when Jagapathi Babu’s character takes center stage before the interval that the film truly comes alive. From that point onward, the emotional stakes become clearer and the story gains momentum.

The film’s most effective stretches can be narrowed down to three major episodes:

1. The second cricket match sequence
2. Jagapathi Babu’s pre-interval track
3. The final twist and emotionally impactful climax

Although the narrative incorporates three different sports and presents its protagonist as a crossover athlete, the film remains, at heart, a familiar social drama. Beyond the Uttarandhra backdrop and the novelty of seeing a hero excel in cricket, wrestling, and athletics, the storyline itself offers few surprises. The emotional beats and character journey often evoke memories of several Telugu and Hindi films that explored similar themes. Peddi’s mission to secure recognition for his village may even remind viewers of Ravi Teja’s “Bhageeratha”, albeit with a different narrative twist.

Recognizing the familiarity of the story, Buchi Babu relies heavily on characterization, emotional drama, and social messaging to sustain audience interest. His sincerity is evident, and he packages the material with enough scale and conviction to keep viewers invested in Peddi’s journey.

At the same time, the writing leaves much to be desired. The film introduces numerous supporting characters who contribute very little to the narrative. Actors such as Rao Ramesh, John Vijay, and Ajay Ghosh are given no scope, and their presence adds little beyond increasing the runtime. Similarly, the songs placed in the latter half, including an item number, do not significantly enhance the storytelling.

Performance-wise, the film belongs entirely to Ram Charan. Having already delivered acclaimed performances in films such as “Rangasthalam” and “RRR”, he once again demonstrates remarkable commitment to his craft. “Peddi” arguably ranks among the finest performances of his career. His physical transformation is extraordinary, particularly during the wrestling portions, where he exudes authenticity and conviction. More importantly, his emotional performance in hospital episode is equally impressive. Whether portraying determination or vulnerability, he commands the screen with complete confidence. The dedication he has invested in the role is visible in every frame.

Janhvi Kapoor plays the village belle with ease and serves the romantic portions adequately, though her character is ultimately underwritten. Jagapathi Babu delivers one of the film’s strongest supporting performances. His character’s emotional journey forms the backbone of the narrative and provides several of the film’s most impactful moments. Shiva Rajkumar brings dignity and warmth to his role as Peddi’s mentor, while Divyenndu Sharma leaves a modest impression.

On the technical front, “Peddi” is impressive. AR Rahman’s background score significantly elevates the emotional intensity of key sequences and proves to be one of the film’s strongest assets. The songs, particularly “Rai Rai Raa Raa” and “Chikiri Chikiri”, are catchy and integrate smoothly into the narrative.

R. Rathnavelu’s cinematography is consistently striking. The decision to reportedly shoot portions on film stock lends authenticity to the period setting and enhances the visual texture. The dialogue writing effectively captures the local flavor, while Avinash Kolla’s production design deserves special praise for meticulously recreating the era. Editing, however, could have been sharper, as the excessive runtime and sluggish pacing often test the audience’s patience.

Bottom Line: “Peddi” ultimately rests on Ram Charan’s shoulders, and he delivers superb performance that makes the journey worthwhile. While the film does not reinvent the sports-drama genre and suffers from predictable storytelling, logical inconsistencies, and an overcrowded supporting cast, it compensates with an impactful climax. The final thirty minutes, combined with Ram Charan’s committed performance, ensure that the film remains watchable despite its many flaws.

Rating: 3/5

By Jalapathy Gudelli