Chandu Champion 2024

Chandu Champion is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film written and directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. It stars Kartik Aaryan as India's first Paralympics gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.

Principal photography took place from July 2023 to January 2024 with filming held in London, Wai and Jammu and Kashmir. Chandu Champion was released on 14 June 2024.

Plot

2017: An aged Murlikant Petkar arrives at a local police station, saying that he wants to file a complaint against the President of India for not being awarded the Arjuna Award for his achievements. He adds that him winning the award would help in the development of his village. When questioned by an officer about his eligibility, he recounts his remarkable journey:

1952: Murlikant grows up in a small village called Peth Islampur in Maharashtra. At a young age, he develops the ambition to win an Olympic gold medal for India, for which he is mocked and made fun of by his classmates and also scolded by his father.

Events lead him to run away from home and join the Indian Army Corps of EME, where he is selected and trained as a boxer. He is selected to represent India in boxing at the International Services Sports Meet 1964 in Tokyo, where he does well, but loses in the final round because he is distracted and not focused enough. Disappointed at his losing in spite of his potential, his coach Tiger Ali refuses to train him further.

1965: Their unit is involved in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, in which their camp comes under air attack. He is injured severely, with a bullet injuring his spine, rendering him a paraplegic. He is admitted to an infirmary for the war wounded, where, depressed at his condition and that he can never win an Olympic Gold, he has given up on life and attempts suicide.

1972: His former coach Tiger Ali visits him in the infirmary, and inspires him to compete in the Paralympics. He trains hard and qualifies for the 1972 Summer Paralympics in the 50 m freestyle swimming event. While he is there, the Palestinian terrorist attack on Olympics takes place, due to which the Paralympics is shifted to a different venue at Heidelberg. At the new venue, he is successful in progressing through the multiple heats and ultimately wins the Gold Medal, setting a new World record. Once news reaches his village, he becomes a celebrity and is welcomed back by the villagers with great fanfare.

2017: However, his achievements are forgotten over the years. The police inspector is impressed by his story but still suspicious about its authenticity. He contacts a journalist to write an article about him. Upon reading the article as well as receiving Petkar's application for the Arjuna Award, he is visited by a senior government official, who tells him that the Arjuna Award is too small an award for his achievements, and the government has instead decided to award him the Padma Shri.

2018: On 20 March, he received the Padma Shri from the President of India.[8]

It is narrated at the end that the inspiring story of Murlikant Petkar is a fruitful and befitting reply to all ups and down in life, crossing all obstacles, each and every mocking and every fun made of, with the dialogue by Murli, Ae, hasta kaiko hai?

Cast

• Kartik Aaryan as Murlikant Petkar alias Chandu Champion

• Ayan Khan Sroha as young Murlikant

• Vijay Raaz as Tiger Ali, Murli's mentor

• Bhuvan Arora as Garnail Singh

• Yashpal Sharma as Uttam Singh

• Rajpal Yadav as Topaz, hospital wardboy later Murli's friend

• Aniruddh Dave as Jagannath Rajaram Petkar

• Shreyas Talpade as Inspector Sachin Kamble, who got impressed by Murlikant's inspiring story of success

• Ganesh Yadav as Ganpat Bhau

• Bhagyashri Borse as Nayantara (special appearance)

• Sonali Kulkarni as a journalist, who writes the article about Murlikant Petkar

• Hemant Choudhary as Brigadier at Secunderabad

• Brijendra Kala as a thief at police station

• Adonis Kapsalis as Carlos Pedroza

• Hemangi Kavi as Murlikant's mother

Casting

Kartik Aaryan was chosen to play the lead, in his second collaboration with producer Sajid Nadiadwala after Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023).[13] Aaryan underwent a significant physical change for the role, reducing his body fat percentage from a remarkable 39% to a slender 7% over a span of only 14 months.

Music

Chandu Champion

Soundtrack album by

Pritam

Released 15 June 2024

Recorded 2023–24

Genre

Feature film soundtrack

Length 30:45

Label

T-Series

Pritam chronology

Merry Christmas

(2024) Chandu Champion

(2024)

Official audio

Chandu Champion - Audio Jukebox on YouTube

Singles from Chandu Champion

1. "Satyanaas"

Released: 24 May 2024

2. "Tu Hai Champion"

Released: 30 May 2024

3. "Sarphira"

Released: 8 June 2024

The music for the film is composed by Pritam, while lyrics are written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, IP Singh and Kausar Munir. The first single titled "Satyanaas" was released on 24 May 2024.[22] The second single "Tu Hai Champion" was released on 30 May 2024.[23] The third single titled "Sarphira" was released on 8 June 2024.

Track listing

No. Title Lyrics Singer(s) Length

1. "Satyanaas" Amitabh Bhattacharya

Arijit Singh, Nakash Aziz, Dev Negi