9 bullet wounds (one still in the body), three different sports and an unshakable determination to fulfill the dream of an Olympic Gold later, Muralikant Petkar, India's first Paralympian to finish at the top of the podium, got the recognition by his own country 45 years after he achieved what no athlete from his country could.
An earnest, crowd-pleasing sports biopic with strong emotional payoff, even if it leans on familiar underdog beats and predictable structure. It stands out more for sincerity, performance, and inspiration than for surprise.
Best for
viewers who like inspirational true-story sports dramas
fans of emotionally driven biopics
audiences looking for a sincere, accessible crowd-pleaser
people who don’t mind familiar rise-and-fall storytelling
Skip if
you want highly original or formally daring filmmaking
you’re tired of biopic clichés and motivational montages
you prefer brisk, entertainment-first sports movies
you need a film with a lot of narrative surprise
Overview
Chandu Champion is the kind of biopic that knows exactly what it wants to do: honor an extraordinary life with sincerity, uplift, and a steady emotional build. It follows a familiar underdog arc, but the film’s commitment to its subject and its moments of hard-won triumph give it real pull. The sports element is less about spectacle than endurance, discipline, and the stubbornness required to keep going when the body and the world both say no.
Worth noting
Kabir Khan stages the material with competence and warmth, and the film benefits from a lead performance that feels physically and emotionally committed. The supporting cast adds texture, especially in the mentor and authority figures who help shape the protagonist’s journey. At its best, the movie lands as a tribute to resilience and national recognition delayed far too long.
Bottom line
It is also a very familiar biopic in its rhythms. The beats are often predictable, the screenplay can feel mechanical, and the entertainment value is more steady than thrilling. Still, if you’re open to a well-made, heartfelt sports drama that aims to inspire rather than reinvent the form, it earns its place as a solid watch.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Agastya Chhikara (3★) · 144 likes
•Felt like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag + Forrest Gump
•A biopic made with good intent. But the entertainment factor was low.
•Kartik aryan has done a decent job. Still Supporting actors like Vijay Raaz, Yashpal Sharma outshined him at several moments.
Indian 2024: Ranked
lakshika (4★) · 102 likes
Murlikant?
Murli can!
rutansh (3.5★) · 68 likes
hasta kaiko hai? champion hai mai!!
full cliche aur generic story hai but aaj kal to woh bhi bohot rarely acchi hoti hai 🫠🤓ye atleast bohot pyaar se banayi hai ❤️acting, dialogues sab sahi hai according to the need pritam bhai thoda aur accha music de dete to...😔kartik aaryan's best movie easily ✨
kuch naya nahi hai par kharab bhi nahi hai dekh sakte ho 🫶
Shivu Gowda (3.5★) · 63 likes
"Chandu Champion" is a cinematic masterpiece that takes the audience on an inspiring journey of resilience, hope, and triumph. Directed by the visionary filmmaker Kabir Khan, this movie is a poignant blend of emotional depth, compelling storytelling, and breathtaking visuals.
Mihir Nanda (4★) · 60 likes
So pleasantly surprised by the sincerity of this movie.
The trailer had made me so disinterested in this film but then when the film opened to good reviews, I thought I should go see it for myself. And I am glad I took the plunge.
This feels like a beautiful amalgamation of Laal Singh Chaddha and 12th Fail.
LSC because both movies are span across decades and their central characters are belittled by people around them but they manage to… more So pleasantly surprised by the sincerity of this movie.
The trailer had made me so disinterested in this film but then when the film opened to good reviews, I thought I should go see it for myself. And I am glad I took the plunge.
This feels like a beautiful amalgamation of Laal Singh Chaddha and 12th Fail.
LSC because both movies are span across decades and their central characters are belittled by people around them but they manage to… more
2019 · Drama, Action, History · 2h 33m · PG-13 · Curator 8.4/10 (1.5M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A polished true-story competition film about obsession, endurance, and physical limits.
2010 · Drama · 1h 56m · R · Curator 7.6/10 (688.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A gritty, emotionally charged true-story sports drama with strong family dynamics.