Written and directed by Sukumar Bandreddy, Pushpa 2: The Rule, a direct sequel to the much-discussed Pushpa: The Rise, is a major commercial success. In its Telugu and Hindi versions in particular, the film had an excellent run at the ticket window. In spite of that, the film is far from being a masterpiece for multiple reasons. Having said that, here are the aspects that stand out in the Allu Arjun starrer.
Technical Excellence
Sukumar’s films have always been known for boasting top-notch production values and technical finesse. To put it straight, Pushpa 2: The Rule is an excellent work if reviewed from the lens of technicalities.
Miroslaw Kuba Brozek’s cinematography is exceptional and does an excellent job in crafting a big-screen marvel. Devi Sri Prasad’s songs are, as usual, foot-tapping, but the film’s background score is a mixed bag. While the music elevates the fight sequences in the second half, the score in the opening sequence in Japan, reportedly composed by Sam C. S., feels out of place and unimpressive.
Lastly, NavaKanth, the action choreographer from Manipur, did an splendid job in the film. Most notably, the iconic ‘Jaathara’ fight and the ‘Rapa Rapa’ sequence in the second half are excellently shot. Overall, the film is excellent in terms of technicalities, and the makers’ claim of spending INR 60 crores on the fights alone does not seem to be an exaggeration.
Performances of the Cast
Of course, Allu Arjun is the heart and soul of the film. Capitalizing on it, the ‘Icon Star’ did a superb job in bringing Pushpa Raj to life. Be it his magnetic screen presence, dialogue delivery, or performance, the actor has hit the ball out of the park and deserves high praise.
In the emotional moments in the second half in particular, the Telugu actor has showcased maturity, depth and acting prowess. It is safe to say that the lead actor has overshadowed everyone else in the film in terms of performances. In spite of that, Rashmika Madanna & Pavani Karanam stand out as fine performers; the former also brought enough oomph to the screen in the track ‘Peelings.’
As iterated before, the film is far from being a masterpiece and possesses its own share of flaws. Most notably, the film lacks any strong theme, conflict, or plot. The Sukumar-directorial, for most part, feels character-driven and not story-driven. Yet, the writer-director impresses with his trademark punchlines, humor and leaves a mark.
Introducing Pushpa through the water reflection is Sukumar’s mark.
Most notably, the boat chase sequence in the second half and muted confrontation between Arjun and Fahad felt unexciting and passable. In spite of these minor flaws, Pushpa 2: The Rule doesn’t bore you for a second, thanks to Naveen Nooli’s watertight editing.
The cliffhanger teasing a third installment in the series felt forced.
Overall, Pushpa 2: The Rule is a thoroughly enjoyable masala film by Sukumar. The performances of the cast, music, and action choreography stand out, while the writing could have been slightly better in the first half.
