‘Arjun Chakravarthy’ movie review: This sports drama tries too hard

There is a difference between an idea that sounds interesting and the way it is developed into a script, and later into a film. Arjun Chakravarthy, the Telugu film written and directed by Vikrant Rudra, with Vijaya Rama Raju in the title role, is one such example. The effort that has gone into its making is evident, yet the narrative feels clichéd and emotionally detached.

The story is like a biopic of an overlooked sportsman. Based on true incidents, the film centres on kabaddi, focusing on a player from rural Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s and 1990s.

With sepia-toned visuals by Jagadeesh Cheekati and music by Vignesh Baskaran, Arjun Chakravarthy charts the rise, fall, and resurgence of a kabaddi player.

Contemporary Indian cinema has seen a number of sports dramas, including biopics across languages. Many of these films have followed underdogs who overcome economic hardship, social disparities, politics, and bureaucracy to make their mark. Others have explored emotionally resonant tales of former champions returning, often scarred by past setbacks, to find redemption as mentors.

For Telugu movie buffs, the idea of a fictional biopic about an unsung sports hero inevitably recalls the Nani-starrer Jersey, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. The key to any sports drama — fictional or real — is its ability to keep audiences emotionally invested. That is where Arjun Chakravarthy falters. The elements for a stirring, emotionally charged narrative are all present, yet the story never quite finds its footing.

Set in the 1990s, the film opens with Kulkarni (Ajay) from the kabaddi association discovering Arjun, a once-celebrated national champion, now drowning his days in alcohol. From here, the narrative rewinds to the 1980s and even the 1960s, tracing Arjun’s formative years and his initiation into kabaddi under mentor Rangaiah (Dayanand Reddy), himself a scarred ex-sportsman. On paper, it is the perfect arc: a boy rising from rags to glory, guided by a mentor bound to him by shared wounds.

But the execution stays at the surface. Arjun’s natural flair for kabaddi and his training regimen are skimmed over, with his meteoric rise from district to state to national level unfolding mechanically. Even the film’s visual motifs — like mirrors meant to evoke reflection and introspection — fail to translate into anything meaningful.

Rangaiah laments being a failed champion, but the film never earns our empathy for his character. The romance between Arjun and Devika (Sija Rose) feels equally hollow, stitched together with tired tropes. We are never told why Devika’s father objects to their relationship, nor are we given Arjun’s backstory. We are left to infer that it is a case of orthodoxy, caste, or class difference — lazy writing at best.

The idea of intercutting Arjun’s national-level match with a defining moment in Devika’s personal life might have sounded clever on paper, but on screen it falls flat. When a love story lacks conviction and fails to make us root for its characters, their struggles feel weightless.

The larger issue lies in the writing, which never digs beneath the surface, and in the performances, which fail to lift weak material. Arjun’s highs, lows, and supposed pain points are hard to buy given the paper-thin sketch of his character.

By the final hour, the film sinks further under the weight of clichés — chief among them, corrupt officials who single-handedly undo Arjun’s glory. We are asked to believe that one man’s manipulation derails a national-level athlete, with no complaints lodged, no redressal mechanisms, no governing body in sight. The absence of logic leaves the story unconvincing and the audience unmoved.

Every now and then, Arjun numbs himself with alcohol, only to bounce back into competition almost instantly. His turnaround is as abrupt as his downfall. The climax pushes contrivance even further, especially in how Devika’s arc is wrapped up.

Arjun Chakravarthy sets out with the right intent — to spotlight an unsung kabaddi player — but intent alone cannot rescue clumsy writing and half-hearted performances. The result is a sports drama that never quite earns its victory lap.

Published – August 29, 2025 05:15 pm IST