Peddi

Buchi Babu Sana's 'Peddi' is a sprawling, 189-minute action-drama that tries to be both a sports underdog story and a socio-political commentary on invisible communities. The premise is compelling: a village erased from official records, where a laborer's raw athletic talent becomes the only tool to fight for recognition. Ram Charan, in the title role, delivers a performance that is physically commanding but emotionally uneven. He excels in the action sequences, his movements carrying the weight of a man who has nothing to lose. Janhvi Kapoor provides a grounded, warm presence as the love interest, though her character feels underwritten. The real scene-stealer is Shiva Rajkumar, whose gravelly voice and weary eyes bring depth to a mentor figure. The cinematography by R. Rathnavelu captures the arid, dusty landscape with a gritty realism that suits the film's tone. The pacing, however, is the film's biggest hurdle. The first hour is a slow burn, setting up the village's plight with repetitive scenes of bureaucratic indifference. The action sequences are brutal and well-choreographed, but they are spaced too far apart, making the middle act feel like a slog. The musical score by Vishal Mishra is effective in spurts but becomes overbearing in emotional moments, leaning on a familiar 'mass hero' crescendo that feels out of place. The direction shows ambition in its themes, but the execution is muddled. The script tries to juggle too many subplots—land rights, caste dynamics, a corrupt politician (Jagapati Babu in a thankless role)—and resolves them too neatly in the climax. The film's strongest asset is its heart; you genuinely root for these characters, even when the story falters.