peddi review

Peddi Review – A Strong Performance Trapped Inside an Uneven Film

Before watching Peddi, most of what I knew about the film came from social media. Unfortunately, the conversations surrounding it weren't about the story or its technical aspects. Instead, they revolved around the way the heroine was portrayed, Ram Charan's controversial romantic scenes, and the criticism that followed. Even the director eventually addressed those concerns and reportedly removed a few portions from the film.

Going in, I honestly expected a loud commercial entertainer with very little substance. The promotional clips showing Ram Charan playing cricket with unconventional shots, wrestling, and participating in multiple sports gave me that impression.

Surprisingly, the film's core idea is much stronger than I expected.

At the heart of Peddi is a tribal village that lacks even the most basic identity. The people don't have proper transportation facilities, and even reaching nearby places is a struggle. A man who fights for a railway station ends up losing his life, and that incident becomes the turning point for the protagonist.

Instead of taking the usual revenge route, the hero believes that sports can give him an identity. If he succeeds, he can use that recognition to bring attention to his village and fight for the facilities his people deserve. I genuinely liked this idea because it gives the sports drama a meaningful social purpose.

Unfortunately, the execution doesn't completely match the potential of the premise.

The screenplay feels inconsistent in places, and the runtime could have been trimmed considerably. At nearly two hours and forty-five minutes, the film stretches beyond what the story demands. A tighter edit of around twenty minutes would have made the narrative much more engaging.

Ram Charan is undoubtedly the biggest strength of the film. His dedication is visible in almost every frame. Whether it's the physical transformation, the sporting sequences, or the emotional moments, he commits himself completely to the role. You can genuinely feel the amount of effort he has invested.

Jagapathi Babu also leaves a strong impression. His character adds emotional depth to the story and provides some of the film's better moments.

From a technical standpoint, the film is a mixed bag. A.R. Rahman's songs didn't leave a lasting impression on me, but his background score works effectively in several important scenes and elevates the emotional moments. On the other hand, I found some of the locations and production design a little artificial. Certain sequences looked more like elaborate sets than lived-in environments, which affected the overall immersion.

Overall, Peddi isn't a bad film. It has a meaningful premise, a committed lead performance, and a few well-executed action sequences. But the screenplay, pacing, and execution prevent it from becoming the memorable sports drama it had the potential to be.

For me, the biggest takeaway is Ram Charan himself. He has clearly given everything to this project, and that dedication deserves appreciation, even if the film around him doesn't always live up to it.

Rating:  (2.5/5)