Name: Peddi
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Sport
Duration: 3 h 9 min
Rating: 6.3
Cast: Ram Charan Teja, Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapati Babu, Divyendu Sharma

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Set in 1980s rural Andhra Pradesh, a spirited villager brings his community together through sport to stand up to a powerful rival and protect their pride.

Peddi

India Today

NDTV

Taran Adarsh

There are films that keep audiences waiting. Then there are films that make audiences wonder whether the wait was worth it. After years of delays, endless speculation and the familiar uncertainty that now follows most star-led pan-India productions, Peddi finally arrives carrying both excitement and scepticism in equal measure. By the time it reached theatres, it was carrying more than expectations. It was carrying years of discussions, leaked plot points and the pressure of being Ram Charan's next big statement.
The interesting thing is that the film rewards everyone and frustrates everyone at the same time. Fans get enough moments to celebrate. Neutral viewers get to see Ram Charan attempt something few stars of his stature would dare to touch and gives sceptics enough ammunition to say, "I told you so." That contradiction sits at the heart of Peddi.

At a time when stars are chasing larger universes, bigger action spectacles and endless world-building sagas, Ram Charan and director Buchi Babu Sana choose a surprisingly intimate emotional story for their big summer release.

Set in a nameless village tucked beneath a mountain, the film revolves around a community fighting for something most people would consider ordinary: a railway station. The village doesn't have basic resources, lacks recognition and, in many ways, lacks an identity of its own. Why does a village without a name desperately need a railway station? How does Peddi's journey as an athlete become tied to that dream? And how does one man's search for identity become intertwined with an entire community's struggle for existence? Those questions form the emotional backbone of the film.
Peddi is ultimately one of those films where emotion frequently defeats logic. The difference is that it does so with remarkable conviction. Time and again, the film asks the audience to ignore what their head is saying and trust what their heart is feeling. More often than not, it succeeds.

A large part of that success belongs to Ram Charan. His introduction is the kind of scene that reminds you why star entries continue to exist. Though these days, half the audience seems more interested in recording them than watching them. As phones rise across the theatre, so does Charan's command over the film. From that point onwards, he becomes its beating heart.

The transformation is not merely physical. Charan changes posture, body language, energy and attitude with impressive ease. Peddi begins as a carefree daily wage labourer, occasionally venturing into deeply uncomfortable territory in his interactions with Achiyamma, played by Jahnvi Kapoor, before gradually evolving into a man fighting for both personal and collective identity.
Whether it is the cricket sequence where he realises he is being cheated while facing twenty-one opponents, the emotionally charged railway godown scene where he pleads with the police about his identity, the powerful "Nanu Peddi Saaru" moment or the emotional highs of the climax, Charan consistently delivers.
Then comes the film's biggest gamble. Without revealing too much, the transformation the character undergoes in the latter portions of the film is genuinely surprising. More importantly, it is the kind of decision very few commercial stars would willingly approve. In an industry often obsessed with protecting hero's image, Peddi occasionally prioritises character over stardom. That alone deserves appreciation. His dancing deserves a mention as well. At a time when many stars have quietly reduced dancing to a contractual obligation, Charan performs with the ease and enthusiasm that once made him one of Telugu cinema's biggest attractions.

Fortunately, the film does not leave him carrying the emotional burden alone. Buchi Babu Sana once again proves that emotions remain his greatest strength. The structure itself is familiar: introduction, songs, romance, conflict, interval, transformation and larger purpose. In fact, trailers, interviews and social media leaks revealed far more than they should have. Many of the film's major turns can be spotted long before they arrive. Yet the emotional journey remains engaging. That is because Buchi understands something many commercial filmmakers often forget. Audiences may know the destination, but the journey still matters.
The emotional build-up, the gradual raising of stakes and the patience with which certain moments are developed ensure that several predictable scenes still land effectively. Helping him immensely is AR Rahman. The songs take time to settle, but the background score rarely misses a beat. Whether it is triumph, heartbreak, sacrifice or hope, Rahman's music consistently strengthens the film's emotional pulse. The layering of themes, recurring motifs and inventive instrumentation serves as a reminder of why he remains one of cinema's most revered composers. This is easily among his stronger recent works.

The supporting cast also contributes significantly to the film's emotional foundation. Shiva Rajkumar brings tremendous screen presence and dignity to his role. The bond between Peddi and Gournaidu becomes one of the film's strongest emotional pillars. Jagapathi Babu's Appala Soori, despite occasionally drifting into melodrama, effectively establishes both the threat and the stakes.

Visually, Peddi often impresses. R Rathnavelu's cinematography gives the film a distinct identity. Whether it is the raw energy of the wrestling arenas, the texture of the jaggery mills, the dusty roads of the village or the way darkness is used during several night sequences, the visuals constantly reinforce the film's emotional grounding. The village never feels like a set dressed up for a shoot, which many pan-Indian films fail to achieve. Which makes the VFX shortcomings all the more noticeable.
Whether it is lines such as "Is she talking or showing?", "I will touch her once because neither she nor her father will allow me to marry her", or comments about not looking at a girl's face, the film repeatedly mistakes problematic behaviour for romance. Because her screen time is limited, these moments stand out even more. Rather than becoming a minor flaw, they become one of the film's most distracting weaknesses.The editing presents another hurdle. Despite crossing the three-hour mark, Peddi remains largely engaging whenever it focusses on its core story. Yet transitions often feel abrupt. Scenes appear to end before they have fully developed. Narrative links occasionally feel missing, particularly in the first half, as though portions of the film were removed midway through the editing process.
The screenplay experiences similar highs and lows. The crossover athlete journey feels convenient in places. The wrestling-cricket blend may work cinematically, but sports enthusiasts are likely to raise a few eyebrows. Why do Vijayanagaram gangs suddenly rally behind Peddi? Why does he return the money he earns before leaving for Delhi? When did Achiyamma fall in love? Several logical gaps become increasingly visible whenever the emotional momentum slows down.

And yet, for all its flaws, Peddi remains difficult to dismiss. Perhaps because its ambition feels genuine. Perhaps because Ram Charan's commitment is absolute. Or perhaps because the central idea itself is so unusual for a star-driven commercial entertainer. The logic has gaps you could drive a train through, which, given the subject matter, feels oddly appropriate. But the emotions arrive on time. And in Peddi, that is the journey that matters most.

Peddi comes with a lot of audience expectations, both from director Buchi Babu Sana and Telugu star Ram Charan, and it does fulfil them to an extent. The movie, which was touted as a rural sports drama, is set in the 1980s town of Vizianagaram, where poor migrant labourers do the bulk of the work. 

As the film begins, we learn Peddi (Ram Charan) is one of these migrant labourers who works as a cook and whose passion is cricket. He is also a 30-year-old who yearns to get married, but for now, he is cruising along in life. It is as a classy and heavy-hitting batsman that Peddi gains popularity and earns a name for himself. His stylish and dance-like footwork - with the low sweeps and high swings - stand out and make it highly enjoyable as well to watch on the big screen.

But cricket here is much more than just a sport for Peddi - along with extra money, it gives him an identity that he lacks and is robbed of by the upper classes who rule the town.

The first half of the film showcases Peddi's life, his environs and brings into play several antagonists (like Divyenndu) as well as Achiamma (Janhvi Kapoor), Peddi's romantic interest. Achiamma's portions in the first half are quite forgettable, and one of the major problematic issues is with the character's sexualisation.
The extensive focus on Achiamma's waist, chest and back is unwarranted. Then the director tries to justify this through Peddi, who believes that he knows her more through her body than her face. However, Peddi goes ballistic when Rambujji (Divyenndu) tries to outrage her modesty during an event. Quite a contradiction in terms of morality when it comes to the hero versus the villain.

The second half of the film is story-driven, takes the movie forward and is far more engaging, especially with the action blocks. However, the repetition of some emotional plays is a little tiresome and relying heavily on emotions and stunning visuals alone diminishes the film's overall impact.

What makes Peddi's world interesting is the host of characters (like Jagapathi Babu as Suri and Shiva Rajkumar as Gournaidu) who bring out various aspects in their stifling lives. However, there is no one antagonist; rather, there are various characters that are villainous. In Peddi, director Buchi Babu Sana gives us a film that talks about identity, pride, and belonging, and sets it within a regular story of a downtrodden man. While the uneven screenplay is predictable and lacks novelty, it is the emotional highs and lows that really make the story of Peddi.

At the heart of Peddi is Ram Charan, who has given it his all in this role. He has immersed himself in the raw, rustic role and dominates every scene, whether it is romance, sports or fighting for his community. And Buchi Babu Sana has ensured plenty of elevation scenes and his superb dancing skills for the Telugu star, which are whistle-worthy, along with a strong emotional arc which Ram Charan has aced.

Technically, the film is excellent - the visuals are striking, and the cinematography by R Rathnavelu captures the beauty and harshness of the area with great effectiveness. The production values are high, as evident in the authentic way the movie has been showcased. The music by AR Rahman adds tremendous value to the film - in fact, some of the songs like Chikiri were super hits already and seeing this on the big screen is a treat for fans.

Director Buchi Babu Sana has made a highly ambitious attempt to give a commercial content-driven film worthy of Ram Charan's star status. At its core, Peddi is a Ram Charan film all the way. Unfortunately, the movie has its flaws, and one expected the film to pack a far bigger punch. Peddi doesn't reinvent the wheel in its storytelling, but it definitely showcases Ram Charan's superb acting talent and makes him shine.

A sports drama with its share of highs and lows... Its biggest strength is #RamCharan's memorable performance + several terrific moments... Screenplay could've been tighter and the runtime shorter. #PeddiReview

After making an impressive directorial debut with the well-crafted and hugely successful #Uppena, director #BuchiBabuSana returns with an unconventional, content-driven film in his second outing, #Peddi.

The film doesn't follow the tried-and-tested masala template, but at the same time, it attempts to cram a little too much into its 3-hour-plus runtime.

A sports drama needs awe-inspiring moments, and #Peddi certainly delivers on that front... The cricket matches in the first half, the kushti training sessions and competitions, and of course, the penultimate race sequence are all exceptionally executed.

That said, there are loose ends as well... The romantic track is a major letdown, while several sequences feel stretched and some seem unnecessary... A shorter runtime was the need of the hour.

Even the item song in the second half evokes strong #Pushpa vibes, which wasn't really required.

#Peddi rests largely on #RamCharan's shoulders, and the actor delivers a sparkling, stunning, award-worthy performance... It's a physically demanding role that also demands a high emotional quotient – not an easy combination to pull off – but #RamCharan is simply smashing.

#JanhviKapoor's character deserved stronger writing and a more impactful presentation... Dr #ShivaRajkumar is fantastic, #JagapathiBabu is rock-solid, while #Divyenndu delivers a competent performance.

#BomanIrani, #RaviKishan, and #UpendraLimaye lend solid support.

#ARRahman's music works well, with #Chikiri standing out... The background score is electrifying, while #RRathnavelu's cinematography is top-notch... The #Hindi dubbing is very good.

⭐ Final word? The buzz for #Peddi in the #Hindi markets is currently on the lower side, and its boxoffice prospects will depend heavily on positive word of mouth... The #Telugu version, meanwhile, is expected to dominate the business.

Peddi Pehelwan Glimpse (Telugu) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Pehelwan Glimpse (Hindi) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Pehelwan Glimpse (Kannada) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Pehelwan Glimpse (Malayalam) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Official Trailer (Telugu) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Official Trailer (Malayalam) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana

Peddi Official Trailer (Hindi) | Ram Charan | Janhvi Kapoor | A R Rahman | Buchi Babu Sana