What’s it about?
Pushpa Raj, who turned into a local don of red sandalwood smuggling in the Seshachalam jungles, humiliates police officer Bhanwar Singh Shekawat by stripping him down to his underpants at the end of the first part of “Pushpa,” also known as “Pushpa: The Rule.” Pushpa Raj then proceeds to the wedding venue, marries his beloved Srivalli, and proclaims the commencement of his rule.
The second part starts with Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun), now a prominent figure in the smuggling enterprise, proclaiming his dominion in Japan.
With his wife Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), Pushpa Raj leads a contented married life and strives for social esteem. However, Chief Minister humiliates him. Any kind of humiliation is not something he takes lightly. In addition to removing the Chief Minister from the office, Pushpa Raj must deal with Shekawat (Fahadh Faasil), the police officer, and other adversaries, including central minister (Jagapathi Babu). The remainder of the story features Pushpa Raj asserting his power and orchestrating his rampage.
Analysis
Directed by Sukumar, the initial installment of “Pushpa” depicted the ascent of Pushpa Raj, from an impoverished laborer to the kingpin of red sanders smuggling. The sequel to the “Pushpa” saga, “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” reveals how Pushpa Raj reigned over the Seshachalam forest by overcoming numerous challenges and rival machinations, as suggested by the title. The film, with an extensive runtime of 3 hours and 21 minutes, explores numerous facets of the protagonist and his dominion with some stunning episodes.
Two episodes in this lengthy film stand out particularly. 1) The sequence of the apology, where Fahadh expects a ‘sorry’ from Allu Arjun, is noteworthy. 2) The Gangamma Jathara episode is unparalleled and unprecedented. The Gangamma Jathara segment, occurring at a pivotal point in the narrative (the second half), spans approximately 40 minutes and captivates with Sukumar’s exceptional vision and Allu Arjun’s outstanding performance.
This episode is the right blend of an action episode, an emotional moment, and a creative way of including a song. This is truly Sukumar’s mark.
The story of “Pushpa 2” has focused mainly on three characters: Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun), his wife Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), and police officer Shekawat (Fahadh Faasil). All the drama in the film revolves around these three characters. All the big moments in the story involve these characters. So, besides Allu Arjun’s total dominance, Rashmika and Fahadh also get important scenes.
For the most part, Allu Arjun’s character behaves like a ruthless gangster, but the director has also written some soft moments where the protagonist shows his vulnerability and shows what this character really is seeking—the acceptance from the society that he indeed does have a surname.
On the downside, the film suffers from a prolonged narrative. The action stunts in “Pushpa 2” are extravagant and sometimes graphic. While the fights will offer sufficient excitement for mass audiences, the excessive dependence on these sequences in the latter half has diminished the overall experience. The entire stretch after one crucial fight in the second half feels like an unnecessary extension. In several points, the film appears to be following the same pattern of sequences as the first part of “Pushpa”, such as Fahadh – Allu Arjun’s clash, a family sequence concerning surname, the hero fighting while entirely tied down, etc.
The other major point of contention for me is the final beast action episode, which is excessively exaggerated and lacks logic.
Allu Arjun’s performance in the first installment earned him a national award, and in reprising the same character, he delivers an even more captivating acting showcase. He enthralls the audience with his mannerisms yet delivers a compelling performance in pivotal scenes such as Gangamma Jathara. He strives to exceed expectations. In fact, this film shows what he is capable of as an actor and star.
Rashmika Mandanna’s diligence in portraying Srivalli, the wife of Pushpa Raj, is evident. She delivers a refined performance. She gets two important scenes to showcase her acting skills, and she delivers them with aplomb.
Fahadh Faasil is a delight to watch in the role of police officer Shekawat. Embracing the idiosyncratic nature of his character, Fahadh delivers what’s required. The roles of Jagapathi Babu, Anasuya, and Sunil have no fire.
Devi Sri Prasad, recipient of a National Award for his musical direction in the first installment, has not replicated the original’s excellence; however, he has produced some engaging tracks, with “Sooseki” being the standout.
Cinematographer Miresłow Kuba Brożek’s work is magnificent and visually impressive. The visual effects are of the highest quality.
Bottom line: “Pushpa 2 The Rule” is a fitting sequel to the super hit version of the first part, and Allu Arjun gives a standout performance that will be talked for a long time. The film, despite its length, includes a wonderful segment called Gangamma Jathara, which is well worth the money. Despite the lack of a strong plot and several over-the-top action scenes and prolonged climax, Sukumar’s grand vision and Allu Arjun’s outstanding performance keep it interesting.
Rating: 3/5
By: Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Pushpa 2 The Rule
Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Tarak Ponnappa, Dhanunjaya, and others
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Additional BG Score: Sam CS
DOP: Miresłow Kuba Brożek
Editor: Navin Nooli
Fights: Peter Hein, Dragon Prakash, Kecha, Navakanth
Production Designer: S. Ramakrishna – Monica Nigotre
Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili
Story-screenplay-Direction: Sukumar
Release Date: December 5, 2024
