Pushpa 2 Review: Just Fire, Not Wildfire!

Movie: Pushpa 2 The Rule
Rating: 2.75/5
Banner: Mythri filmmakers

Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Dhanunjaya, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Tarak Ponnappa and others

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

DOP: Mireslow Kuba Brozek

Editor: Navin Nooli

Matches: Peter Hein, “Dragon” Prakash, Kecha, Navakanth

VFX Supervisor: Kamal Kannan

Production designer: S. Ramakrishna – Monica Nigotre

Produced by: Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili

Written and directed by: Sukumar

Release date: 5 December 2024

Pushpa 2 has been generating massive buzz over the past few months. After the sensational pan-Indian success of the first part, the second part has created huge anticipation across the country.

Trade analysts predict it will set new records at the box office. Allu Arjun has been actively promoting the film across India, further fueling the excitement.

Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

History:
Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun), now enjoying a happily married life, faces an unusual request from his wife, Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), who asks him to take a picture with the state’s Chief Minister. Despite accepting funds from Pushpa Raj for his political party, the CM refuses citing that he cannot be seen in association with a smuggler.

Feeling humiliated, Pushpa Raj decides to make his friend Siddappa (Rao Ramesh) the next Chief Minister. To achieve this ambitious goal, he has to arrange INR 500 crore by smuggling large quantities of red grinders.

But SP Shekawat (Fahadh Faasil), seeking revenge for the humiliation he suffered earlier, is determined to sabotage Pushpa’s plans.

Amidst the ongoing rivalry between Shekawat and Pushpa Raj, Pushpa also faces a domestic crisis that diverts his focus and adds another layer of complexity to his mission.

Artists’ performances:
Allu Arjun, who won a National Award for his performance in the first part of Pushpa, delivers yet another captivating performance in the sequel. The Gangamma Jathara episodes and the climax stand out as the highlights of his acting prowess. In the Gangamma sequence, Allu Arjun embraces a female persona, showing his incredible versatility as an actor. Although the sequel features more action stunts, Allu Arjun still shines with his emotional acting and delivers a performance that is even more intense than the first. The film is entirely his show.

Rashmika Mandanna, though limited in screen time, excels in crucial moments. She particularly impresses in two key scenes where she shows off her acting skills, and she oozes glamor in the “Peelings” song.

Fahadh Faasil, the exceptional Malayalam actor proves his mettle yet again. His presence consistently elevates the drama, turning even ordinary scenes into poignant moments. As an antagonist, his charisma and authentic performance command attention.

Rao Ramesh is impressive in his role, while Jagapathi Babu’s character lacks depth and impact.

Sunil and Anasuya Bharadwaj, reprising their roles from the first part, have minimal importance in the narrative. Sreeleela’s item song unfortunately stands out as the weakest part of the film.

Technical expertise:
Miresłow Kuba Brożek’s cinematography is breathtaking and elevates the visual experience to a new level. Compared to the first episode, his work in this sequel is even more impressive. After the massive success of the first part, the producers have significantly increased the budget, allowing all technicians to raise the bar in terms of quality and richness.

The visuals are sleek and the production design and VFX are top notch. The dialogues are sharp and the action stunts are lavishly executed.

Though Devi Sri Prasad’s music is not as iconic as in the first part, it works reasonably well on screen. Both Devi Sri Prasad and Sam CS deliver a solid background score. However, the editing is a big drawback.

The film’s running time of 3 hours and 20 minutes makes it feel tiresome at times, hindering the overall experience.

Highlights:

Allu Arjun’s amazing performance
Pushpa’s clash with Chief Minister
The “Sorry” episode involving Fahadh and Bunny
Climax fight

Disadvantage:

Long driving time
Unnecessary first 20 minutes
Layers
The main section for part 3

Analysis
Pushpa 2, the second part of the Pushpa series, continues the story where the first part left off. Director Sukumar begins the narrative with a sequence set in Japan before going back to the Seshachalam forest in flashback style. However, the first 15 minutes of the film feel unnecessary and add little to the story, unnecessarily lengthening the runtime.

The plot then shifts focus to Pushpa Raj’s current married life, the Chief Minister’s refusal to be photographed with him, and a brewing conflict between Shekawat and Pushpa. These events unfold at a deliberate pace, with the film taking its time to build the narrative.

Sukumar excels at engaging the viewers with his script that gradually builds anticipation for key moments, especially the confrontation between Fahadh Faasil and Allu Arjun. The interval successfully sets up the drama for the second half.

The standout sequence after the interval is Gangamma Jathara where Sukumar’s strong writing and direction shines. In this scene, Allu Arjun, dressed as Gangamma, delivers a riveting fight sequence.

After this, the song “Sooseki” and a subsequent family confrontation scene provide emotional depth, with Rashmika Mandanna delivering an outstanding performance. This extended sequence is one of the highlights of the second half, effectively blending drama and emotion.

The film also balances humor and romance in a few scenes between Rashmika Mandanna and Allu Arjun. Rashmika in particular steps out of her comfort zone for some daring, glamorous moments leading up to the “Peelings” song.

While the first half offers intermittent thrills, the second half captivates with a long, impactful sequence. But the film lacks a solid story that relies on recurring themes of humiliation and the hero’s search for validation.

Sukumar seems to have leaned heavily on Allu Arjun’s mannerisms and commanding performances to carry the film, prioritizing action over a compelling narrative.

The pre-climax features a visually magnificent but logically implausible fight sequence where Allu Arjun fights antagonists with his hands and legs tied. While the scene evokes some emotional resonance in the context of the story, its lack of realism diminishes its impact.

The introduction to Part 3 feels more like a gimmick than a seamless continuation of the story.

Despite its shortcomings, Sukumar showcases its brilliance in two key sequences: Allu Arjun’s emotional breakdown when he asks for a daughter instead of a son, and the climactic Ajay sequence. However, the director’s shift towards a more mass-market style deviates from his usual classic and nuanced storytelling.

Overall, Pushpa 2 thrives on Allu Arjun’s phenomenal performance which surpasses his work in the first place. While the film suffers from a long running time and a less coherent story, Allu Arjun’s magnetic presence and the engaging narrative make it an entertaining watch.

Bottom line: Not so fragrant