Director Sukumar’s mastery is apparent in Pushpa 2 where action, drama and mystery blend seamlessly. Allu Arjun’s performance is more impressive than the one he did in the original film.

He effortlessly embraces the character quirks and transforms even bold moments into signature scenes. Fahadh Faasil is just as good as the villain.

Characters

Having fanned his way to the helm of the red sandalwood cartel, Pushpa wishes to consolidate his power and dominate. He can afford it, but longs for honour and authority. Unfortunately, his self-righteousness draws him into dangerous corners.

He’s not the kind to sit down and get insulted, so when he hears that SP Shekhawat has used his picture for a political advertisement, he vows to exact his revenge. His ego gets fuelled further by Daksha’s proximity to Shekhawat, who marshals it to force him into a corner.

As always, Allu Arjun plays the role with utmost vigour and completes his roles with ferocity. Rashmika Mandanna also shines as Srivalli and adds a bit of sweetness and humanity to the movie. But only in the latter half does the film falter. The narrative differs from the first film, and thus the scenes are forced and stretched. Even the plot reverts to negative form when it sexualises Srivalli, which feels trite and out of place in Pushpa 2. However, director Sukumar’s genius is on display and Pushpa 2 is a movie to watch.

Story

Pushpa: The Rise II carries the rough, gritty tale of red sandalwood smuggling forward. In director Sukumar’s direction the film delivers action and drama in a huge-scale, almost surreal way.

Allu Arjun’s performance as Pushpa Raj is undoubtedly amazing. He executes the character’s cruelty, savagery and resistance with sublime effortlessness. Even violent scenes – like one in which he slits the throats of dozens of knife-wielding men with no hands or feet bound – appear plausible.

Sukumar also knows how to develop characters, establish narrative complexity, and build suspense around key events. The film’s finale, the Gangamma Jathara sequence, is one of the best examples of this. But the film is let down by the film’s pace, which occasionally dips in and out of control. In addition, the writers basically picked three story lines for the movie and tied them together without making sure that they all grew naturally together. This would have added a bit of punch and intensity to the film. Even so, the movie remains one of the best movies you should watch because of its plot and powerful acting.

Performances

We can congratulate director Bandreddi Sukumar and team for keeping up the gritty feel of Pushpa while giving us a sequel bigger in scope. The camerawork and editing elevate the action sequences, bringing the viewer to a euphoric state. But it is Allu Arjun’s transcendent performance that really numbs the blood. He seduces, moves, dismembers and kills like no other actor in Indian cinema. It just takes him up a notch to the stars with his character, showing that he is an actor in the making.

Other supporting characters in the film are also excellent, particularly Fahadh Faasil and Jagapathi Babu. They flesh out their roles, keeping the plot straight even in the mishmash. Rashmika Mandanna does a good job on screen, in combination with her unapologetically dance-able moves. The final scene, by no means the best moment in the film, is nonetheless riveting. Sukumar turns a ‘will he or won’t he say sorry’ scene into an emotionally fraught scene. He also effortlessly enacts Allu Arjun, turning even the boldest moves such as the beard stroking into sequences.

Music

Pushpa does not abide by social conventions. He smuggles red sandalwood, fights and kills for it. And with such bravado, it’s hard to look away from him. But he’s equally damn hard to believe. Allu Arjun does so without hesitating, transforming even the most daring sequences into masterpieces.

Sukumar, who also penned and directed Pushpa 2, is an expert at putting together sets with cash. And he does so with a couple of important scenes in Pushpa 2. But much of the film is crushed beneath its vaulting ego.

In spite of its shortcomings, Pushpa 2 still delivers a rollercoaster ride with its edgy star and its cleverly written script. The Jaathara sequence is an unforgettable blend of grimness and fun. But the movie itself falters after it establishes Pushpa’s egotistical one-on-one rivalry with IPS officer Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil). Nor does the movie give Pushpa enough challenges to make him virtually impossible to defeat.

Songs

The music for Pushpa 2 is total fucker. From Allu Arjun’s lyrics to the track Srivalli unleashes, all the songs in the film are stoked and will have everyone bawling at the theaters. Even the final scene is touching and audiences will cry. Action is absolutely fantastic and a step up from the first movie. The Gangamma Thalli Jatara sequence especially is phenomenal and will turn the viewer into a hysteric.

Allu Arjun in all his brilliance and charisma. He is the heart of Pushpa 2 and makes him one of the finest actors in Telugu cinema. Rashmika Mandanna is equally stunning as Srivalli and gives her character depth and warmth.

Some scenes display Sukumar’s knack for setting up rigs and their ensuing benefits. But the movie also smacks of some pacing blunders and plot saturation. The Japan episode at the beginning of the film is a waste of time and the story repeatedly resorts to an antiquated trope of Pushpa rescuing women from sexual assault.

By Manish

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