Peddi (2026)

Peddi is a cricket ace, then a wrestler, then something else entirely, and the movie needs more than three hours to get through all of his careers. Buchi Babu Sana has a moving story at the center: a tribal hamlet near Vizianagaram in 1994 that the government won’t even give a name, and Appalasoori, an elder who has been begging officials for one, and a train station, for most of his life. But the film keeps detouring into scenes that feel borrowed from other sports dramas, and the supporting cast is badly underwritten. Janhvi Kapoor, as Achiyamma, gets almost nothing to do. Ram Charan carries it anyway. He’s fully committed, even when the action gets outlandish. Shiva Rajkumar brings gravity as Gournaidu, the veteran wrestler who spots his talent, and Jagapathi Babu is the heart of the film. A. R. Rahman’s score lifts the big moments. A 5.0 because the cause is moving and the movie around it is bloated. $49.92 says you organize a backyard cricket match this weekend and act like you’ve never lost.

What works: Ram Charan gives a fully committed lead performance, and the fight for a village’s recognition gives the film a real emotional core.

What doesn’t: It’s bloated and derivative, borrowing heavily from other sports dramas, and it leaves supporting characters like Achiyamma badly underwritten.

Who it’s for: Ram Charan fans ready to settle in for a long, loud, big-hearted sports saga.