“Dreams aren’t just what you see while you’re asleep—they’re what keep you awake.” This powerful quote rings true from start to finish in Kabir Khan’s “Chandu Champion” (2024). The movie proves how one man’s determination can make even the heavens bow down. Based on the true story of Murlikant Petkar, an ordinary man from a village near Sangi, the film delivers both raw emotion and pure entertainment you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a story of grit, heart, and the kind of spirit that refuses to back down—no matter what.
Chandu Champion (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Why does Murlikant Petlikar Want to Lodge an FIR against India’s presidents?
At the start of the film, we see the old Murlikant Petkar walking into a police station, but he’s not there to report a theft or an assault. No, Murli is there to lodge a complaint against the current and former Presidents of India. His grievance is that they never awarded him the Arjuna Award, an honor he believes he rightfully deserves. Murli feels the government has denied him this recognition, and he’s not about to let that slide.
When asked who he is, Murli casually mentions that he was a boxer—forty years ago. But why does he want to claim an Arjuna Award now, after all this time? The truth is, Murli’s village has barely progressed, even decades after independence. He’s convinced that if he’s awarded the Arjuna Award, it’ll shine a spotlight on his village, bringing much-needed development. No more walking miles for water or sitting under a single bulb, waiting for it to flicker to life. For Murli, the award isn’t for his personal glory, but it’s about giving his village a fighting chance at a better future.
How Does Murli Get the Moniker of “Chandu Champion”?
Ever since Murli learned about Khashaba, the first man to bring home an Olympic medal for India, he has been snared. The way the entire village—kids and elders alike—respected Khashaba made a deep impression on him, and he dreamed of one day standing in those shoes and winning gold for India at the Olympics. When Murli shared this dream with his friends and teachers, they didn’t just laugh but also outright bullied him, dubbing him “Chandu Champion” as a cruel joke.
That day, Murli shed tears, but his brother gave him a reality check. If he wanted people to stop laughing, he had to give them a reason to respect him first. To prove himself, Murli met with Venkat Bhao, the only man in the village who could teach him wrestling. Venkat wasn’t interested at first, but when he saw that Murli wasn’t going to back down, he finally agreed to train him. And so, the journey of Chandu Champion truly began.
Why Did Murli Join the Army?
Years go by, and Murli finally gets his chance to prove himself in a pretend match against Venkat’s brother-in-law’s son. But the timing couldn’t have been worse. Murli’s father wasn’t thrilled about his son spending all his time in the wrestling ring and laid down a condition that Murli could only wrestle if he passed his exams. If he failed, he’d have to drop the dream and find another hobby. But Murli wasn’t about to let a piece of paper stand between him and his dream.
He escaped and managed to win the pretend match. Venkat Bhao was floored because he hadn’t even taught Murli any real techniques yet! Things escalated quickly, and before he knew it, Murli was on a train to Poona. That was when he crossed paths with Kernail Singh, who advised him to join the army. It would help him reach his goal, said Kernail Singh.
Did Murli win any medals in the army?
As expected, Murli joined the army, training hard to become a soldier, skilled in both arms and discipline. However, his fellow soldiers couldn’t help but chuckle when Murli shared his dream of winning Olympic gold. They told him it was impossible because, after all, no Indian had ever managed more than a silver. But when Murli’s superior caught wind of his ambition, he pointed him in the direction of Tiger Ali, a boxing coach. Much like Venkat before him, Tiger figured the only way to get Murli off his back was to agree to train him.
Tiger Ali also nicknamed him “Chotu Tiger.” In the months that followed, Chandu aced both his military training and boxing. Murli also won multiple gold medals for EME and even knocked out multiple boxers at the International Military Games in Tokyo, including Sultan Ahmed. Unfortunately, in the final match, Chandu was knocked out by a tough Ugandan fighter and had to settle for a silver medal.
How Murli Became Parapeligic?
In 1965, Murli was posted in Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistan war. One fateful day, two Pakistani aircraft leveled their military base, taking out many soldiers, including Murli’s best friend, Kernail Singh. Murli was riddled with nine bullets and slipped into a coma for a grueling two years. When he finally woke up, Murli was told that a bullet lodged in his spine had left him paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors did everything they could, but removing the bullet was too risky.
Murli was crushed, even reaching the point of attempting suicide. But destiny had other plans, and if you’re meant to achieve great things, you yourself can’t stand in your own way. Murli survived, hit the jackpot with a huge lottery win, and miraculously began to regain sensation in his legs. This whole thing was nothing but the universe giving Murli a second chance.
Why Did Murli Pick up Swimming?
Murli knew his days of boxing like a regular athlete were over. So, on Tiger Ali’s advice, he decided to try his luck in the Paralympics. Ali’s words about a true champion falling but never giving up reignited the fire Murli thought he had lost. With boxing off the table, Murli set his sights on water, the one element that never stops anyone. Inspired by the simple yet powerful image of a fish swimming without hands or feet, Murli found his new calling. Under Tiger Ali, Murli prepared to conquer the world once again, this time to claim the victory that was always meant to be his.
Did Murlikant Petlikar win the Gold Medal?
As fate would have it, destiny decided to test Murli one last time, just to see if he truly deserved that gold. And as expected, Murli conquered that challenge and made his way to Munich, Germany. However, that year, tragedy struck when eight members of Black September, a Palestinian militant group, stormed the Olympic Village and massacred several athletes. The 20th Olympics were suspended and later shifted to Heidelberg. In Heidelberg, Murli did the unthinkable and became the first Indian to ever win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.
Murlikant Petlikar finally achieved what he was destined for: to conquer the Olympics, with that gold medal resting proudly on his chest like a hard-earned garland of victory. Murli won because his resolve to prove himself right was stronger than the will of those trying to prove him wrong. Sadly, though, his story got lost somewhere in the sands of time, overshadowed by the noise of other tales.
Chandu Champion (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
How did Murli receive the Padma Shri Award?
Murli has a change of heart about chasing the Arjuna Award and decides to put his energy and whatever money he has into building a road for his village himself. When a journalist learns about Murli’s story, she does some research and finds the real reason why Murli never got the Arjuna Award. It turns out that the reason Murli never received the Arjuna Award was simply because there were no records of it. The 1972 Olympics were relocated to Heidelberg after the terrorist attack, and Murli’s achievements were lost in the shuffle, never making it back to India.
The journalist wrote a heartfelt piece on Murli, a man who had sacrificed everything for his country, only to be overlooked when it came time to honor him. The story reached the ears of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and instead of just awarding Murli the Arjuna Award, the Indian government decided to recognize his extraordinary contributions and sacrifice with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors.
Chandu Champion True Story Explained:
Truly, Murli Petlikar’s story is an inspiration. Petlikar had a tough life from the day he was born in a little Indian hamlet. He was tenacious and unmoving despite coming from a poor family and having physical limitations. Sports were his life in his youth, and he pursued them with all his might. When Petlikar participated in the Paralympic Games in 1980 and 1984, he finally broke through. He won many medals, including gold, and displayed his athletic skills there. The fact that he was able to compete at the world level despite his disability is living proof that nothing is impossible if you’re willing to put in the work for it. Murli made the nation proud and brought home the first-ever individual gold medal. Sadly, it took the country forty years to recognize such a man and talent.
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