What’s the story of Champion?
Set in the turbulent years before the Hyderabad State’s accession to the Indian Union, “Champion” unfolds against a backdrop of oppression unleashed by the Razakars, the private militia of the Nizam. Michael Williams (Roshan), a talented young footballer from Secunderabad, earns an opportunity to play for Manchester Football Club in England. His dreams, however, are abruptly derailed when his visa is denied, owing to his father George’s alleged betrayal of the British.
Desperate to find a way out, Michael agrees to smuggle guns from Secunderabad to another location in return for money, hoping this will eventually fund his passage to England. During one such mission, he and his friend Shabeer accidentally land in Bhairanpally village and are forced to take temporary refuge there. Unbeknownst to him, the village is at the centre of a fierce uprising against the Razakars, led by Raji Reddy (Kalyan Chakravarthy) and ideologically guided by Sundaraiah (Murali Sharma) and the party.
In Bhairanpally, Michael encounters Chandrakala (Anaswara Rajan), who writes and directs stage plays for the villagers. A restrained romance gradually develops between the two. What follows is the journey of a man who arrives with no stake in the conflict, but slowly finds purpose, solidarity, and moral responsibility. “Champion” charts Michael’s transformation from an outsider into a participant.
Analysis
The Telangana armed struggle against the Razakars remains one of the most significant yet underrepresented chapters in Indian history. The Razakars, led by Qasim Razvi, functioned as the Nizam’s private army and unleashed widespread terror across Telangana villages through religious fanaticism and brutal violence. While the rest of India attained independence on August 15, 1947, the Hyderabad State, one of the princely states, refused to accede to the Indian Union. This defiance ultimately led Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to order Operation Polo, resulting in the integration of Hyderabad into India.
The uprising in Bhairanpally predates Operation Polo and, as the film suggests, served as a moral catalyst for Patel’s decisive action. Historically, the Bhairanpally revolt is real and well documented. In response to relentless Razakar atrocities, young men from surrounding villages formed defence squads, with Bhairanpally emerging as the nerve centre. Leaders like Duburi Ram Reddy, Mukunda Reddy, and Muralidhar Rao spearheaded the resistance. On August 27, 1948, the villagers engaged in a fierce battle, sacrificing many lives. Even today, a memorial bearing the martyrs’ names stands in Bhairanpally, around 45 kilometres from Jangaon.
The revolt is undeniably inspiring and shares thematic parallels with several guerrilla uprisings across the world. Pradeep Advaitham deserves credit for choosing to tell this story and attempting to introduce it to the present generation. His intent is sincere, and he takes considerable effort to dramatise historical events. However, the execution does not fully translate into a compelling cinematic experience.
From a screenplay perspective, “Champion” follows a familiar and time-tested narrative template, that of the outsider or reluctant protagonist who ultimately proves his worth by embracing a larger cause. This structure has been explored extensively in cinema, most notably in Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.” Pradeep opens the film with Jawaharlal Nehru urging Sardar Patel to delay military action against the Nizam, thereby laying the groundwork for the Bhairanpally uprising. Into this political and historical framework, he introduces Michael, an outsider with no connection to the village.
Unlike “Seven Samurai,” where the warriors are hired to defend the villagers, Michael arrives in Bhairanpally purely by chance. Yet, as in Kurosawa’s classic, he eventually takes ownership of the revolt and arms the resistance. The climactic guerrilla battle of “Champion” clearly echoes the final act of “Seven Samurai.”
As a writer-director, Pradeep structures the film coherently and remains faithful to the historical spine. However, the narrative lacks urgency and dramatic propulsion. Both halves of the film linger excessively on peripheral episodes, resulting in an overstretched runtime. That said, several sequences stand out, particularly the guerrilla warfare portions. Another effective moment is Michael’s moral awakening, where he realises that one must not merely question why the world is cruel, but act to change it when given the chance. This turning point is placed well within the narrative.
Balancing historical authenticity with commercial cinema is always a challenge. Lean too far in either direction, and the film risks becoming either exploitative or documentary-like. Pradeep attempts to walk this tightrope, but the results remain uneven.
While certain portions are engaging, the overall slow-paced narration may not resonate with today’s audience, which has limited patience for deliberately paced historical dramas.
Roshan, in his first full-fledged lead role, emerges as a major positive. He possesses strong screen presence, delivers a sincere performance, and handles the Telangana slang convincingly. With the right script choices, he has the potential to grow into a credible commercial hero. For Roshan, “Champion” marks a promising debut. Anaswara Rajan, however, is let down by a character that offers little novelty or depth.
Kalyan Chakravarthy, returning to acting after several decades, lends dignity and authority to the role of Raji Reddy.
Mickey J Meyer’s music is another asset. Beyond the viral “Gira Gira,” the remaining songs blend well with the narrative. Veteran production designer Thota Tharani’s work adds authenticity and scale, while the cinematography is evocative. The producers have clearly invested heavily to recreate the period convincingly. Editing, however, lacks the sharpness needed to sustain momentum.
One important caveat is that certain historical interpretations and creative liberties taken by the director may not sit well with sections of the Telangana lovers and specific groups.
Bottom Line: “Champion” brings to the screen an important and inspiring chapter of Telangana history, the Bhairanpally revolt against the oppressive Razakars, and introduces a promising lead in Roshan. While the film does not fully succeed due to an underwhelming narrative drive, it is marked by sincerity in its effort and solid production values.
Rating: 2.5 /5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Champion
Cast: Roshan, Anaswara Rajan, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Kovai Sarala, Vennela Kishore, Murali Sharma, and others
Music: Mickey J Meyer
DOP: Madhi
Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Production Designer: Thota Tharani
Action: Peter Hein
Producers: Priyanka Dutt, GK Mohan, Gemini Kiran
Written and Direction: Pradeep Advaitham
Release Date: December 25, 2025
