Pushpa 2 The Rule: A Gripping Blockbuster That Keeps You Hooked

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Writers: Sukumar, Sreekanth Vissa
Director: Sukumar
Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagadish Pratap Bandari, Jagapati Babu, Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh, Saurabh Sachdeva, Brahmaji, and Srileela
Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
Language: Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam

In Bollywood, filmmakers often opt for sequels, but the story and characters are usually new. The real challenge lies in continuing the story and characters from the first film, which is something Bollywood filmmakers tend to shy away from. However, Telugu director Sukumar accepts this challenge head-on with Pushpa 2: The Rule, the sequel to his 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. This film, with its 3-hour 20-minute runtime, holds the audience’s attention from start to finish. The direction is brilliant, the action sequences are spectacular, and the performances are outstanding. While the first film’s success was driven by its viral dialogues and music, Pushpa 2 falls short in the music department but improves in its dialogue and storyline.

Story Overview:

In Pushpa 2: The Rule, Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun) who had ascended to the head of the labor union syndicate after smuggling large quantities of red sandalwood, now faces a new set of challenges. His wife, Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), and his loyal followers continue to support him, while his new adversary, Inspector Bhawani Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil), seeks revenge. The smuggling operation, which was once limited to national borders, has now turned international. The plot unfolds with twists, with Pushpa’s evolution from a laborer to a powerful man, facing battles for both respect and survival.

The film picks up right where the first one left off, with Pushpa's personal and professional battles taking center stage. The narrative explores themes of power, ego, and loyalty, with Pushpa Raj now being a force to reckon with. Srivalli’s role as a supportive wife is given depth, and her dynamic with Pushpa is compelling, adding an emotional layer to the story.

Review:

One thing is clear after watching Pushpa 2: The Rule – Bollywood filmmakers could learn a thing or two from Sukumar and Allu Arjun. While Bollywood struggles to create memorable characters and powerful storytelling, Sukumar has proven that great content and audience engagement go hand-in-hand. The movie’s box office collection on the opening day is likely to outshine the lifetime earnings of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. While the plot itself may seem simple—Pushpa versus Shekhawat—it’s the screenplay that makes the story thrilling. The dream sequence in the beginning, set in Japan, could have been shortened, but Sukumar uses it symbolically to show that Pushpa’s reach has gone international, hinting that Pushpa 3 could take the story to Japan. This forward-thinking approach to storytelling adds depth to the character and builds anticipation for future installments.

The film’s dialogues are a major highlight. Allu Arjun’s swagger and confidence in delivering lines like “Flawer samjhe kya? Fire hai main” (Do you think I’m a flower? I’m fire) will have the audience cheering and applauding. While Bollywood has often failed to make cinema relatable for the common man, Pushpa 2 hits the mark in terms of both mass appeal and emotional engagement. The action scenes and some intense moments also surpass the over-the-top sequences seen in Bollywood films like Animal.

Another standout element is how the film handles women’s empowerment and respect without resorting to unnecessary preachiness. Allu Arjun and Sukumar show respect for Srivalli’s character, which is a refreshing change in an industry often criticized for sidelining women’s roles. However, some may take issue with the portrayal of Srivalli as being "sexually hungry," which might seem a bit uncomfortable for some viewers. The film also includes a few vulgar scenes, but these don’t overpower the essence of the story.

Every frame of the film showcases a fresh perspective, which makes each scene of Pushpa 2 stand out. For example, there's a scene where more than 200 of Pushpa's men are captured by Shekhawat. The audience might expect that Pushpa Raj will arrive and engage in a fierce battle to free his companions. However, Pushpa does something entirely unexpected, a move that Bollywood filmmakers would never even think of. The film features three major action sequences and some clever smuggling tactics, which will certainly entertain viewers in B and C centers as well.

From a technical standpoint, the film’s cinematographer, Kuba Brożek Mirosław, hailing from Poland, deserves a standing ovation. He has brilliantly juxtaposed the humanity of the sandalwood forests with the brutality of the urban concrete jungles, earning a perfect score. The film’s VFX is also impressive and adds a significant edge to its visual appeal.

However, the film's weakest aspect is its music. The item song “Kisik,” featuring Srileela and Allu Arjun, is quite disappointing. The video for the song “Angaareon Ka” holds a big surprise, but the audio of the song “Peelings” fails to live up to expectations, leaving much to be desired.

Acting

Allu Arjun's portrayal of Pushpa Raj, a character fighting for rights, recognition, respect, and identity while dealing with a complex childhood rivalry with his stepbrother, is truly memorable. His ability to portray a range of emotions—anger, helplessness, and cruelty—so convincingly is something only a few actors can achieve. In the role of Srivalli, Rashmika Mandanna's performance solidifies her as a top-tier actress. Her acting in this film serves as a warning to Bollywood's leading actresses, proving her mettle. Fahadh Faasil, the Malayalam film superstar, has delivered an outstanding performance as Bhawan Singh Shekhawat. Other supporting actors have performed well in their respective roles.

—Shantiswarup Tripathi

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