Pushpa-2 is a 2024 Telugu language action drama film written and directed by Sukumar. The film has Allu Arjun, Fahadh Faasil & Rashmika Mandanna playing the lead roles while Sunil, Jagapathi Babu, Dhanunjaya, Rao Ramesh, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Ajay Ghosh, Jagadeesh, Brahmaji, Ajay, Sritej, Kalpalatha, Tarak Ponnappa, Shanmukh, Pavani, Mime Gopi, Satya, Adithya Menon, Saurabh Sachdeva, Divi, Bindu & others are seen in important supporting roles. The music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad while the film is produced by Naveen Yerneni & Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili under Mythri Movie Makers in Association with Sukumar Writings banners.
Story:
The film kicks off from where the first part ended. Pushpa (Allu Arjun) marries Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) and continues his illegal export of red sandalwood while police officer SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil) makes plans to go after Pushpa and his illegal business. On the other hand, Pushpa plans to make MP Siddhappa (Rao Ramesh) the CM. In this process, Pushpa gets a huge international deal to smuggle red sandalwood out of the country. Can Shekhawat stop Pushpa with this deal? Why does Pushpa want Siddhappa as CM? What will happen to Pushpa’s family in all this mess? All the answers need to be witnessed on big screens.
What about on-screen performances?
AllU Arjun is in top form and he continues it with Pushpa-2, this time much bigger and better in terms of performance, effort, hard work, versatility, and variations. His act in this film as Pushpa Raj is flawless . Watch out for his act in the Jathara portions. Too good!!
Rashmika Mandanna delivers a solid performance as Srivalli. All her romantic scenes with Pushpa work well and the fun banter between them is hilarious. Watch out for her single take after the Jathara fight. Whistles guaranteed!!
Fahadh Faasil brings a new dimension to his role and is excellent as Shekhawat. He is funny and fierce when needed as this mad cop whose only aim is to take down Pushpa’s empire. All his face-off scenes with Allu Arjun are captivating, especially the interval scene is just mad. But sadly his role goes missing towards the end, and his character doesn’t end convincingly.
Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari ably supports Pushpa throughout the film and he does well in all his scenes as Kesava.
Sunil, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Brahmaji, Ajay, Kalpalatha & Tarak Ponnappa are first-rate in their supporting parts.
Dhanunjaya, Ajay Ghosh, Sritej, Shanmukh, Pavani, Mime Gopi, Satya, Adithya Menon, Saurabh Sachdeva, Divi, Bindu & all others are good in their respective limited supporting roles.
What about off-screen talents?
The story by Sukumar is predictable and lacks depth in terms of how it progresses forward. Since the rise of the lead actor is already shown in part 1, this sequel only focuses on how he overcomes all the hurdles he faces from various people to grow even bigger. Something similar to the pattern followed in KGF-2.
The screenplay is good in parts and also looks a bit unnecesaily dragged in a few others places. But the scene design deserves appreciation as it looks refreshing.
The way Sukumar designed the whole first half with good high moments is excellent. All the confrontation scenes of Pushpa with various people in this half are engaging. Especially, the way he brought out the ego angle of Pushpa & Shekhawat in the interval scene shows how good a writer he is.
The second half however has a few slow & dragged-out portions here and there. The whole Jathara sequence is one of the biggest highlights of the film and watch out for Allu Arjun & Rashmika in these portions.
But the film takes a major dip once the kidnap happens and things get a bit routine here. The whole pre-climax fight where Pushpa goes to save the kidnapped girl is a full meal for the mass audiences, especially in the North belt. But at the same time, there have been a lot of cinematic liberties taken in this fight which looked a bit overboard. Also, ending the film on family emotions felt forced, and the lead-up to Pushpa-3 felt a bit underwhelming.
Director Sukumar did a brilliant job with his craft and his whole presentation looked grand on screen. He took a simple plot line and focussed more on elevating the character through powerful scenes and he succeeds big time in doing so. The way he presented Allu Arjun in this film deserves a lot of credit as this is one of the best performances from AA in his entire career.
The dialogues by Srikanth Vissa are well-written and add much-needed value to all the scenes.
The songs by Devi Sri Prasad are chart-busters already and they only get better when you see them in the theatres. All 4 songs and the extra Jathara song are of good quality and add huge value to the film.
The original background score by Devi Sri Prasad & the additional background score by Sam CS is good in most of the parts while they look a bit ordinary in a few places too. But overall, it is passable.
The cinematography by Mireslow Kuba Brozek is one of the biggest strengths of the film in the technical department. He gives the film a big canvas through his camera work and all the action portions are particularly shot well.
The edit by Navin Nooli is good in the first half but needed a good trim in the second, especially towards the climax portions & the pre-climax fight.
Special mention to all the dance choreographers. All the songs are composed wonderfully and the dance moves are spot-on. Another special mention to the artwork and production designers S. Ramakrishna & Monica Nigotre for their authentic sets.
The action choreography by Peter Hein, Dragon Prakash, Kecha, & Navakanth is of top quality. All the action blocks stand as a big highlight of the movie.
The production values by Mythri Movie Makers & Sukumar Writings are grand.
What’s Hot?
* Allu Arjun’s Outstanding Performance
* Kickass Interval Ego Clash Scene
* Extra Ordinary Jathara Sequences
* Massy Pre-Climax Fight
* Fahadh Faasil’s Performance
* Rashmika Mandanna’s Performance
* All Ensemble Supporting Cast Performances
* Super Hit Songs & Superb Dance Choreography
* Decent Background Score & Excellent Art Work
* First Rate Cinematography & Action Choreography
* Top Notch Production Values
What’s Not?
* Predictable Plot
* Abrupt & Ordinary Ending
* Few Over The Top Liberties In Pre-Climax Fight
* Dull Lead To Part-3
* Fahadh Faasil’s Character Arc
* Jagapathi Babu’s Old Look & Hair
Verdict: Overall, Pushpa-2 is a well-made big-scale sequel that should be experienced on big screens. It has an award-winning performance by Allu Arjun, some uniquely designed scenes in typical Sukumar style, wonderful songs with superb dances, and a couple of extraordinary sequences that give us maximum high in the theatres. It definitely offers a good theatrical experience that is worth all your money.
Telugubulletin.com Rating: 3/5
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Pushpa 2: The Rule is an upcoming 2024 Indian Telugu-language action drama film directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, in association with Sukumar Writings. The film stars Allu Arjun in the titular role, alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil. It is the second instalment in the Pushpa film series and the sequel to the 2021 film Pushpa: The Rise.
The film has music composed by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography handled by Mirosław Kuba Brożek and editing by Naveen Nooli. With a runtime of 200 minutes, it is one of the longest Indian films ever made.
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Second Half Report:
If the first half was a complete Sukumar show with his writing, the second half is a complete Allu Arjun’s power packed show with many mass masala elements.
The whole Jathara episode and the Kissik song are the biggest highlights of this half.
The ending looked a bit dragged and was ordinary. Also there were a lot of cinematic liberties taken in this half, especially in the pre climax fight.
Apart from these, this half is a mass bonanza from AA!!
Overall, Pushpa-2 is a well made worthy sequel that SHOULD be witnessed on the big screens.
12.20 P.M : Allu Arjun is in full GOD mode.
The whole Jathara Episode followed by the Sooseki song, and the whole Jathara fight is a testimony of his Hard Work he has put in for this film.
First Half Report:
It is a complete Sukumar show from start to begin and he is leaving no stone unturned to elevate Pushpa in every damn scene.
The interval scene is a perfect example of how good a writer and maker he is.
Allu Arjun asusual continues his top form as Pushpa Raj and is terrific with his screen presence. He is well complimented by all the supporting actors and Rashmika.
Overall, a Banger First Half !! 🔥
10.45 P.M: The romantic track between Pushpa & Srivalli is hilarious and the recent chart buster “Peelings” song is a complete dancing treat from Allu Arjun, Rashmika and Sekhar master 🔥
Allu Arjun last 5 years nundi dance cheyaledu anee koratha ee okka song tho teeripoyindi. 😍
10.15 P.M: Things intensify with the entry of ‘Gundu Police’ – Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. As Shekhawat starts his game against Pushpa the plot gets interesting.
The title song is a treat on big screen and kudos to the dance choreographers. The way Pushpa lits the a smoke with fire on his shoulders shows Sukumar mark taking 🔥
09.45 P.M: The film starts with smuggling red sandalwood to Japan and quickly switches into a kickass entry of Icon Star Allu Arjun in typical Sukumar style.
This is probably one of the best and grand entries of a mass hero you have ever witnessed on big screens.
Surely the wild fire has lit up big