Buchi Babu Sana’s Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Peddi released in theatres on June 4 with paid premieres on June 3. The film sees Ram’s titular character compete in three sports in a bid to make his people heard. While the film takes creative liberties with the character, aceing every sport he takes on, Buchi argues that there’s more at stake than just winning medals. Does Peddi achieve what he set out to do? Ending explained. *Spoilers ahead*
(Also Read: Peddi movie review: Janhvi Kapoor feels wasted in Ram Charan film that raises important questions about identity)
What is Peddi all about?
Peddi (Ram Charan) stays in a place near Vizianagaram that everyone calls ‘konda kinda uru’ (place under the hills) because it has no name. The comparatively small settlement has no access to healthcare, schools, running water, or a train station – everything you would expect every citizen of this country to have.
Peddi inherits the cause from Appalasoori (Jagapathi Babu), who has knocked on government doors for years to be heard. But this fight for basic amenities is more than just that; it’s about getting recognition as human beings worthy of them in the first place. So when the ‘aata coolie’ (player for hire) Peddi soon realises that sport can help him make his people heard, he decides to go to any lengths for it.
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Does Peddi achieve what he set out to do?
The film begins with introducing this character as a cricketer worth his salt, so much so that the Vizianagaram and Bobbili teams bid on him. When Gournaidu (Shiva Rajkumar) offers him something more with kushti (traditional wrestling), he grabs the opportunity with both hands, even at the risk of alienating his people.
As Peddi’s skill rises, Veerabhadra (Tarak Ponnappa), who enjoyed the limelight till then, bristles. The seasoned athlete discovers the newbie’s weak point and uses it against him. After a painful fight during the finals, Peddi is told that he can no longer compete as the nerves in his leg have given out due to extensive injury. He still tries to make his people heard, but is turned away at every step.
Peddi notices para athletes sprinting, and he sees a door open just when he is about to give up. He voluntarily amputates his leg in the most painful way possible and trains in sprinting with a leg blade, going on to win the 1996 para Asian games. But the point was never to win a medal for India. When given the opportunity, he points out that he cannot be called an Indian when the place he stays at doesn’t even have a name.
The film ends with Peddi achieving what he set out to do. The system that won’t listen to a citizen with no voting rights is forced to listen to a gold medal-winning athlete. His people get a train station, which they name Appalavalasa after Appalasoori. Which also leads to his clan finally getting the recognition they’ve fought for years.
Is there a sequel to Peddi?
The film ends with an Olympic committee member (Boman Irani) who, inspired by Peddi’s story, launches the Khelo India campaign. As for the person who’s described as a ‘crossover athlete’, he is shown leading the life he always dreamed of in Appalavalasa. Even as Ram’s character turns to the camera and says his trademark line “Malli pudatama enti? (Will we be born again?),” you wonder if there’s a sequel planned. Thankfully, unlike most big-ticket Tollywood films these days, the film ends on a note that promises no such thing.