Peddi Review Roundup: Ram Charan’s Peddi has finally arrived in theatres, carrying the weight of enormous expectations. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana and featuring music by A.R. Rahman, the sports drama marks one of Telugu cinema’s biggest releases of the year. Coming after the mixed reception to Game Changer, the film was also seen as an important project for Ram Charan, who teams up with Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Divyenndu Sharma, and Jagapathi Babu in a story that attempts to blend sports, rural politics, identity, and emotional drama.
Set in a rural Andhra backdrop, Peddi follows the journey of Peddi, a fiery and fiercely determined young man whose life is shaped by humiliation, community divisions, and a relentless desire for dignity. Cricket forms the backbone of the narrative, but critics note that the film is rarely interested in sports for its own sake. Instead, Buchi Babu Sana uses cricket, wrestling, and local rivalries as vehicles to explore questions of self-respect, belonging, caste and community identity, and the struggle to earn recognition in a society governed by hierarchy and power.
As Peddi fights for acceptance and purpose, the film introduces a range of characters who influence his journey. Janhvi Kapoor plays a key figure in his personal life, while Shiva Rajkumar brings gravitas to a role that several critics have described as one of the emotional anchors of the film. Divyenndu Sharma, meanwhile, emerges as a notable presence within the larger conflict. Together, these characters help shape a story that aspires to be both a mass entertainer and a socially conscious sports drama.
The early critical response suggests that Peddi succeeds in many of its emotional and thematic ambitions, even if its storytelling often struggles to keep pace with them. Across reviews, one conclusion emerges repeatedly: Ram Charan delivers a powerful performance that elevates a film whose strengths and weaknesses are constantly at war with one another.
If there is one area where critics are virtually unanimous, it is Ram Charan’s work as Peddi. Hollywood Reporter India wrote that the actor’s heavy lifting infinitely elevates what is otherwise a simple sports drama. NDTV similarly argued that Charan carries the film across the finish line, while Indian Express noted that he shoulders much of the film’s emotional and dramatic weight. Even reviews that were critical of the screenplay repeatedly returned to Charan’s performance as the movie’s defining achievement.
Critics have particularly praised the emotional dimension of the character. Rather than presenting Peddi as a conventional larger-than-life sports hero, the film positions him as a man haunted by rejection, anger, and a desperate need for validation. Several reviews point out that the emotional arc surrounding dignity and self-worth is ultimately more compelling than the sports narrative itself. India Today highlighted Charan’s ability to balance vulnerability with mass appeal, while Variety India argued that his charisma often compensates for shortcomings elsewhere in the film.
The performance also benefits from a character that critics found emotionally accessible. Peddi is driven less by trophies and victories than by a need to reclaim respect for himself and his community. This emotional foundation is one of the reasons many reviewers remained invested in the film even when they felt the screenplay faltered.
That emotional foundation is closely tied to Buchi Babu Sana’s ambitions as a storyteller. Several critics noted that Peddi is attempting something larger than a traditional sports drama. Beneath the cricket matches and commercial set pieces lies a story about identity, social status, power, and belonging. Hindustan Times praised the film for asking meaningful questions about dignity and recognition, while India Today appreciated the way the narrative tries to connect personal struggles with broader social realities.
The film’s rural setting has also drawn praise. Critics appreciated how Buchi Babu Sana builds a world shaped by community loyalties, local politics, and generational tensions. Unlike many contemporary sports dramas that focus almost entirely on competition, Peddi frequently shifts its attention toward relationships, social structures, and emotional conflicts. This ambition has earned widespread respect from reviewers, even among those who ultimately felt the film falls short of greatness.
However, the screenplay has emerged as the most common source of criticism. Nearly every major review identifies the writing as the film’s weakest link. The Hindu described Peddi as a weakly written sports drama despite strong contributions from Ram Charan and A.R. Rahman. Scroll criticized the film’s reliance on hyperbole and melodrama, arguing that it often mistakes emotional excess for emotional depth. Variety India similarly suggested that the screenplay struggles to manage the weight of its own ambitions.
India Today’s review perhaps best summarizes the critical consensus by arguing that the emotions frequently hit sixes while the writing gets “dhobi pachaad.” Critics repeatedly point to familiar sports-drama beats, predictable developments, and pacing issues that prevent the film from fully capitalizing on its strongest ideas.
Several reviews also discuss the film’s dialogue and emotional writing. While some dramatic exchanges land effectively, others were criticized for being overly explanatory. Scroll and The Hindu both suggested that the screenplay occasionally overstates its themes rather than allowing them to emerge naturally. Critics felt the film sometimes pauses to tell audiences what to feel instead of trusting the story and performances to communicate those emotions.
The balancing act between sports drama, social commentary, family drama, and commercial entertainment also proved divisive. Indian Express noted that the film often feels pulled in multiple directions at once, while Variety India argued that certain subplots receive attention at the expense of others. The result, according to several critics, is a film that occasionally feels overstuffed despite its strong intentions.
Yet even among the film’s critics, there is considerable admiration for its emotional highs. One recurring observation is that Peddi becomes significantly stronger whenever it focuses on character and emotion rather than plot mechanics. India Today singled out the interval sequence as one of the film’s major highlights, while audience reactions have repeatedly praised the emotional intensity of the final act.
The climax has emerged as one of the most discussed aspects of the film. NDTV praised the way the final portions bring together the story’s emotional and thematic threads, while Deccan Chronicle—despite offering one of the more critical reviews—acknowledged the impact of the climax and its dramatic payoff. Several critics noted that the film’s strongest moments arrive when the emotional stakes finally align with the sports narrative, creating the sense of catharsis that the screenplay occasionally struggles to sustain elsewhere.
A.R. Rahman’s music has become another major point of agreement among reviewers. If Ram Charan is the film’s greatest asset in front of the camera, Rahman is arguably its greatest asset behind it. Critics repeatedly credit the composer with enhancing emotional scenes and adding scale to the storytelling. The Hindu specifically highlighted Rahman’s contribution as one of the primary reasons the film remains engaging, while NDTV noted how effectively the score amplifies both the sporting sequences and the emotional drama.
Many reviewers suggested that the music often elevates scenes beyond what is present on the page. The background score, in particular, has been praised for reinforcing the film’s themes of pride, struggle, and perseverance. Rahman’s work helps create an emotional continuity that the screenplay sometimes lacks.
Not every character receives the same level of attention from critics. Janhvi Kapoor’s role has emerged as one of the film’s most debated elements. While reviewers generally praised her screen presence, many felt the screenplay ultimately sidelines her character. Hindustan Times argued that she is underserved by the narrative, while several critics noted that the character initially appears poised to play a meaningful role before gradually becoming secondary to Peddi’s journey.
The supporting cast fares somewhat better. Shiva Rajkumar has received praise for bringing authority and emotional weight to the film, with several reviews highlighting his performance as one of the movie’s strengths. Divyenndu Sharma has also earned positive notices for adding texture to the story’s conflicts and relationships. Yet some critics felt that the screenplay introduces compelling characters without fully exploring their arcs.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the critical response is that few reviews occupy extreme positions. There are no overwhelming declarations of masterpiece status, but neither is there a consensus that the film fails. Instead, critics consistently return to the same idea: Peddi is a film they admire more than they love.
NDTV, Indian Express, Hollywood Reporter India, Variety India, and India Today all arrive at versions of that conclusion. The ambition is respected. The performances are praised. The emotional core is appreciated. The music is celebrated. Yet the screenplay remains a persistent obstacle preventing the film from reaching the heights it clearly aspires to achieve.
In many ways, Peddi reflects a broader trend in contemporary Telugu cinema, where filmmakers increasingly attempt to merge commercial entertainment with social themes and character-driven storytelling. Buchi Babu Sana’s film may not fully solve that challenge, but critics seem to appreciate the effort. The movie reaches beyond formula and occasionally achieves something genuinely moving in the process.
The overall Peddi Review Roundup suggests that Peddi is an ambitious, emotionally sincere sports drama elevated by Ram Charan’s commanding performance and A.R. Rahman’s stirring music. While the writing continues to divide opinion, most critics agree that the film offers enough emotional power, thematic depth, and memorable moments to stand above the average sports entertainer. It may not be the complete triumph its makers envisioned, but it has earned something perhaps equally valuable: the respect of critics who recognize both its flaws and its aspirations.
Film: Peddi
Director: Buchi Babu Sana
Cast: Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Divyenndu Sharma, Jagapathi Babu
Genre: Sports Drama
Music: A.R. Rahman
Language: Telugu
Release Date: June 4, 2026
Read More Review Roundups on POF
