Chandu Champion is a Hindi-language sports drama film released in 2024. It was written and directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film stars Kartik Aaryan as Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold medalist.
Filming:
The film’s shooting started in July 2023 and continued until January 2024. It was shot in various locations including London, Wai, and Jammu and Kashmir. The film hit theaters on 14th June 2024.Cast:
- Kartik Aaryan as Murlikant Petkar, also known as Chandu Champion
- Ayan Khan Sroha as young Murlikant
- Vijay Raaz as Tiger Ali, Murlikant's mentor
- Bhuvan Arora as Garnail Singh, Murlikant's friend
- Yashpal Sharma as Major Uttam Singh
- Rajpal Yadav as Topaz, a hospital ward boy who later becomes Murlikant's friend
- Aniruddh Dave as Jagannath Rajaram Petkar, Murlikant's elder brother
- Samyak Shringirishi as young Jagannath
- Shreyas Talpade as Inspector Sachin Kamble
- Nitin Bhajan as Murlikant's father
- Hemangi Kavi as Murlikant's mother
- Ganesh Yadav as Ganpat Bhau
- Bhagyashri Borse as Journalist Nayantara (special appearance)
- Sonali Kulkarni as a journalist who writes an article about Murlikant Petkar
- Hemant Choudhary as a Brigadier at Secunderabad
- Brijendra Kala as a prisoner at a police station
- Adonis Kapsalis as Carlos Pedroza
- Shivraj Walvekar as Minister Vishwas Patil, Development
Production:
Kabir Khan first announced the film in July 2022. The official announcement came on 4th July 2023 with a motion poster released by Sajid Nadiadwala. Kartik Aaryan was selected for the lead role. To prepare for the role, he underwent a significant physical transformation, reducing his body fat from 39% to 7% over 14 months.Shooting Details:
The first schedule of shooting began on 12th July 2023 in London. The second phase took place in Kashmir starting on 24th September 2023. The crew also shot in Wai, Maharashtra. The filming wrapped up on 31st January 2024. One notable scene is an 8-minute war sequence filmed at Aru Valley in Jammu at an altitude of 9000 feet.Music:
The soundtrack of Chandu Champion was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, IP Singh, and Kausar Munir. The music was released on 15th June 2024. The album includes songs like "Satyanaas," "Tu Hai Champion," and "Sarphira."Marketing and Release:
The trailer was launched on 8th May 2024 at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior, Kartik Aaryan’s hometown. The film was promoted on various platforms including the dance reality show Dance Deewane. A special screening was held for Indian Army officers in Delhi on 5th June 2024, where Murlikant Petkar was honored.Reception:
Chandu Champion received mixed to positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 14 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 5.9/10. Critics praised Kartik Aaryan's performance, but some felt the film fell into cliched storytelling.Box Office:
As of 11th July 2024, the film had earned ₹74.35 crore in India and ₹13.79 crore overseas, making a total of ₹88.14 crore worldwide.Conclusion:
Chandu Champion stands out for Kartik Aaryan’s strong performance and the inspiring story of Murlikant Petkar. While the film had its flaws, it succeeded in delivering a feel-good narrative that resonates with the audience.
