‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ is everything that the fans will be hoping for. It's bigger, louder and more entertaining than the first one.
The story of how a labourer becomes the head of a worldwide sandalwood smuggling ring enamoured fans when the first movie came out in 2021.
Three years later, director Sukumar and Allu Arjun return with a bang in a sequel that raises the stakes considerably. But the movie is not without its faults.
The best part of the movie is undoubtedly Allu Arjun. His sheer screen presence and dedication to the role is a joy to watch. His performance undoubtedly stands out from the rest of the cast.
However, the entire cast has done an amazing job. Everyone from Rashmika Mandanna to Suniland Brahmaji put up solid performances. But like always there are a few stand-out performers.
Allu Arjun and Fahadh Faasil rise above the rest, ever so slightly. The chemistry and back-and-forth between the characters provide some of the most intense and surprisingly hilarious moments in the movie.
Some of the best parts of the movie are the cinematography and the action set pieces. Certain scenes literally look like they are painted by a master artist. Some of the action set pieces are incredible to watch too.
It’s not that the action is technically proficient; don't expect hand to hand combat or the gunfights a la John Wick. What ‘Pushpa 2’ does is make the action scenes feel larger than life. The sentiment and emotion behind the action seems justified, immersing the viewers even more into the world of Pushpa.
Two action scenes, in particular, steal the spotlight, and those scenes need to be watched on the big screen to get the full effect. You’ll know what scenes I’m talking about when you watch the movie.
But like I said, the movie isn't without faults, with a running time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Even though the movie does a good job in keeping up the pace and not letting the viewers get bored, by the end second act viewers will start getting a little restless.
Also, at times it feels like there’s too much going on, with numerous plot points the movie decides to focus on. And there are five different villains in the movie, each with their own backstory and motivations.
So at times, it does get difficult to get emotionally invested in the smaller plot points. There are four songs in the movie but the good thing about this that we finally get to see Allu Arjun dance again. One of the most talented dancers in Indian cinema, his skills were criminally underutilised in the first movie. So to see him finally getting the opportunity to shake a leg this time around is incredibly satisfying.
Overall, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ is a thoroughly entertaining sequel that one ups the first movie completely.
VERDICT: If Pushpa 1 was your cup of tea, you should head to the theatres for Pushpa 2. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 6/10
Deviprasad Nair