Peddi is a sports drama that is so high on performance but falters on an overpriced runtime. Director Buchi Babu Sana, who made a solid debut with Uppena, returns with an unconventional, content-driven film that does not follow the masala template. That ambition is admirable but the film tries to cram too much into its three-hour-plus runtime, and it’s a roller coaster of exhilarating highs and frustrating lows.
Where Peddi excels is in its sporting set pieces. The cricket matches in the first half, the kushti (wrestling) training sessions and competitions, especially the penultimate race sequence are all really good, providing the awe-inspiring moments any sports drama needs. But the romantic track is flat, some sequences feel stretched and some seem unnecessary. And even an item song in the second half has Pushpa vibes that are out of place.
The film is largely made entirely on Ram Charan’s shoulders and he is an outstanding, award-winning actor. It’s a physically demanding role and also one that demands high emotional range—a tough role to play but Charan is just one of the best in terms of physicality and emotional range. Janhvi Kapoor’s character could have gotten better writing and a more impactful presentation. The supporting cast is great: Dr. Shiva Rajkumar is great, Jagapathi Babu is solid, Boman Irani, Ravi Kishan, and Upendra Limaye were strong in it and Divyenndu is very good. A.R. Rahman’s music works well—Chikiri is particularly strong—and his electrifying background score and R. Rathnavelu’s top-notch cinematography make for an amazing experience. Hindi dubbing is very good.
As of now, the buzz for Peddi in Hindi markets is low and its box office prospects will depend heavily on positive word of mouth. The Telugu version will dominate, though, which is a bigger market. A tighter screenplay and a shorter runtime might have made Peddi unforgettable, but as it stands, it is still an intense, albeit uneven drama with a career-best performance by its star, and one with a career-best turn from its lead actor.
