Roshan Meka and Anaswara Rajan's Telugu period sports drama, Champion, is heading to Netflix on January 29, 2026. This announcement comes shortly after the film's theatrical release on December 25, 2025. The digital release aims to broaden the film's reach after its performance in theaters.
Champion is set in 1948, in post-Independence India, and revolves around Michael Williams, portrayed by Roshan Meka, an aspiring football player from Secunderabad. Michael dreams of playing football in England, but his journey takes a turn when he becomes entangled in arms smuggling and finds himself in Bhairanpally village, resisting Razakar oppression. Anaswara Rajan plays Tallapudi Chandrakala, with whom Michael falls in love.
Netflix officially confirmed the release date through its social media channels, stating, "Football ground ki champion kaani rangam lo… sainikudu (Not just a champion on the football ground… but a soldier).". The film will be available in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Directed by Pradeep Advaitham, Champion attempts to blend sports drama with a historical narrative. The film's narrative is set against the backdrop of the Nizam's rule in Hyderabad. Michael's ambition is to travel to England and become a successful football star, but his father's past prevents him from entering the country. In a desperate attempt to reach England, Michael agrees to deliver illegal cargo.
The film is produced by Priyanka Dutt, G. K. Mohan, and Gemini Kiran under Swapna Cinema in association with Anandi Art Creations and Zee Studios. The music is composed by Mickey J. Meyer, with cinematography by R. Madhi and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Alongside Roshan Meka and Anaswara Rajan, the cast includes Avantika Vandanapu and Edward Sonnenblick.
Champion marks Roshan Meka's second film after "Pelli SandaD". Despite a reported budget of Rs 40 crore, the film struggled at the box office. The early OTT release is viewed as a strategic move to recover costs and connect with a wider audience. Industry sources suggest that a significant portion of the budget has already been recovered through digital rights.
