Chandu Champion is a gripping 2024 Hindi-language biographical sports drama that chronicles the inspiring journey of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. Directed by Kabir Khan and backed by producer Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film features Kartik Aaryan in a transformative role.
Shot across scenic locations like London, Wai, and Jammu & Kashmir, the film blends emotion, determination, and patriotism. Despite its compelling subject and ambitious scale, Chandu Champion, which hit theatres on 14 June 2024, received a mixed-to-positive critical reception but fell short at the box office.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Kabir Khan
- Writer: Kabir Khan, Sumit Arora, Sudipto Sarkar
- Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala, Kabir Khan
- Star Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Vijay Raaz
- Narrater: Sonali Kulkarni
- Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee
- Editor: Nitin Baid
- Production company: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Kabir Khan Films
- Genres: Drama, Action, History, Biography
- Distributor: Pen Marudhar Entertainment
- Release date: 14 June 2024
- Running time: 142 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Chandu Champion movie 2024 Trailler
Film Star Cast
- Kartik Aaryan as Murlikant Petkar alias Chandu Champion
- Ayan Khan Sroha as young Murlikant
- Vijay Raaz as Tiger Ali, Murli’s mentor
- Bhuvan Arora as Karnail Singh, Murli’s friend
- Yashpal Sharma as Major Uttam Singh
- Rajpal Yadav as Topaz, a hospital ward boy, and later Murli’s friend
- Aniruddh Dave as Jagannath Rajaram Petkar
- 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
- Sonali Kulkarni is a journalist who writes an article about Murlikant Petkar
- Hemant Choudhary as Brigadier at Secunderabad
- Brijendra Kala is a prisoner at the police station
- Jagat Rawat as Doctor
- Dilnaz Irani as Nurse
- Adonis Kapsalis as Carlos Pedroza
- Shivraj Walvekar as Minister Vishwas Patil
Story of the film
Arriving at a local police station, an elderly Murlikant Petkar says he wants to complain to the President of India about not receiving the Arjuna Award for his accomplishments. He goes on to say that his town would grow if he were to win the prize. He describes his incredible adventure when an officer asks him about his eligibility:
An elderly Murlikant Petkar claims he wants to complain to the Indian president about his accomplishments not receiving the Arjuna Award as he arrives at the local police station. If he were to win the award, he continues, his village would expand. When questioned about his qualifications by an officer, he recounts his amazing adventure:
He flees his family due to circumstances and enlists in the Indian Army Corps of EME, where he is chosen and given boxing training. He is chosen to compete in the International Services Sports Meet 1964 in Tokyo as a boxer for India, and although he fares well, he loses in the last round due to his lack of attention and distraction. Tiger Ali, his coach, is disappointed that he lost despite his talent and declines to give him more training.
Their camp is attacked by aircraft during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, in which their regiment is engaged. He has suffered terrible injuries, including a gunshot wound to his spine that has left him paraplegic. After being taken to a war-injured clinic, he attempts suicide because he is upset about his condition and the fact that he would never be able to win an Olympic gold.
Their troop participates in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, during which their camp is attacked by aircraft. He is paraplegic due to serious injuries sustained from a gunshot wound to his spine. He is brought to a war-injured facility, where he attempts suicide after losing hope in life due to his condition and the knowledge that he would never be able to win an Olympic gold.
Tiger Ali, his previous coach, pays him a visit in the hospital and encourages him to participate in the Paralympic Games. After putting in a lot of training, he qualified for the 50-meter freestyle swimming event at the 1972 Summer Paralympics. The Palestinian terrorist assault on the Olympics occurs while he is there, and as a result, the Paralympics are moved to Heidelberg. He successfully advances through several heats at the new location, takes home the Gold Medal, and establishes a new world record. He becomes a celebrity after word gets out, and the locals celebrate his return with great fanfare.
But as time passes, his accomplishments are forgotten. Although his tale impresses the police inspector, he remains dubious about its veracity. He asks a reporter to write a piece about him. A senior government official visits Petkar after he reads the article and submits his application for the Arjuna Award. He informs him that the government has chosen to give him the Padma Shri instead of the Arjuna Award, since it is too little recognition for his accomplishments.
Production
The movie was initially revealed by Kabir Khan in July 2022. On July 4, 2023, Sajid Nadiadwala released a motion poster for the movie, which will feature Kartik Aaryan and be helmed by Kabir Khan.
Casting
Following Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023), Kartik Aaryan was selected to play the lead in his second project with producer Sajid Nadiadwala. Aaryan saw a dramatic physical transformation for the position, dropping his body fat percentage from an impressive 39% to a slim 7% in just 14 months.
Film Shooting
The first schedule was finished at a Muhurta puja in London on July 12, 2023, marking the start of principal photography. Additionally, the film was shot in Maharashtra’s Wai village. On January 31, 2024, the eight-month filming came to an end. At 9,000 feet above sea level, in Jammu’s Aru Valley, a difficult 8-minute single-shot combat action was filmed.
Songs/Music
Amitabh Bhattacharya, IP Singh, and Kausar Munir wrote the film’s lyrics, while Pritam provided the music. “Satyanaas” was the first single to be released on May 24, 2024. On May 30, 2024, the second single, “Tu Hai Champion,” was made available. On June 8, 2024, the third single, “Sarphira,” was made available.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer |
| 1 | “Satyanaas” | Amitabh Bhattacharya | Arijit Singh, Nakash Aziz, Dev Negi |
| 2 | “Tu Hai Champion” | IP Singh | Arijit Singh, Amit Mishra |
| 3 | “Sarphira” | Kausar Munir | Sreerama Chandra |
| 4 | “Jamoore” | Amitabh Bhattacharya | Mame Khan, Kailash Waghmare |
| 5 | “Na Door Hai Na Paas Hai” | Kausar Munir | Darshan Raval |
| 6 | “Jeet Ka Geet” | Kausar Munir | Shaan |
| 7 | “Sarphira” | Kausar Munir | Mohammed Irfan |
Marketing
Aaryan’s birthplace of Gwalior’s Captain Roop Singh Stadium, hosted the debut of the movie’s trailer on May 8, 2024. Aaryan used the dancing reality program Dancing Deewane to promote the movie. Petkar received congratulations at a special showing of the movie on June 5, 2024, in Delhi for Indian Army officers.
Release
Theatrical
The movie debuted in theaters on June 14, 2024.
Home media
The movie debuted on Amazon Prime Video on August 9, 2024.
Review
Critics gave Chandu Champion mediocre to favorable reviews, praising Aaryan’s performance. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregation website, has an average rating of 5.9/10, meaning that 87% of the reviews from 15 critics are positive.
“Overall, Chandu Champion, expertly directed by Kabir Khan, proves irresistible with its powerful feel-good story,” commented Nishad Thaivalappil of News18, who gave the movie a rating of four stars out of five.
Indian Jain Arushi Today gave the movie a rating of three stars out of five and commented that Kabir Khan’s belief in his subject and ability to make it feel wonderful is what makes the Kartik Aaryan-led movie worthwhile seeing.
According to Sukanya Verma of Rediff, who gave the film a rating of 2.5 out of 5, Chandu Champion is Kartik Aaryan’s most ambitious project to date, and the actor’s physical passion is evident. The man’s belly appears to be burning, yet his spirit is lacking.
Even if Kabir Khan’s film has declarative, highlighted portions, Kartik Aaryan’s portrayal makes you root for him, according to Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, who gave it a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5.
Box office
Chandu Champion has made ₹74.35 crore in India and ₹13.79 crore abroad as of July 11, 2024, for a total of ₹88.14 crore globally.
References
Wikipedia contributors. (2025f, May 6). Chandu champion. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandu_Champion
Chandu Champion (2024) ⭐ 7.8 | Action, Biography, Drama. (2024, June 14). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27470893/
