Pushpa 2 REVIEW: Allu Arjun is WILDFIRE in this intense clash with Fahadh Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna wins hearts as Srivalli

Film:
Pushpa 2: The Rule

Director: Sukumar

Writers: Sukumar, Srikanth Vissa (dialogues)

Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Dhananjaya, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj

Run Time: 201 minutes (3 hours, 21 minutes)

Platform: In Theatres

Pushpa 2: The Rule Review

Written and directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2: The Rule lives up to the hype that was created three years ago. While the 2021 film shed light on Pushpa being an underdog who went from being a daily labourer working for a red sandalwood smuggler to becoming the syndicate’s boss later, the just-released sequel shows how Allu Arjun’s character navigates life post-marriage to Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) and becomes one of the richest and most powerful people in the the state if not the country. Alongside this, the sequel also dwells on how intense the cat-and-mouse chase between IPS Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Fassil) has gotten.

Does Pushpa manage to maintain his level-headedness when faced with opposing forces in the form of Shekhawat, CM Kogatam Veera Pratap (Jagapathi Babu), Mangalam Srinu’s wife, Dakshayani (Anasuya Bharadwaj) and more? Why does he dress up as Goddess Kaali during the Gangammathalli Jathara? Does his dynamics with his biological change? Why is Pushpa no longer national? To know the answers to all these questions, one needs to watch Pushpa 2: The Rule, and here’s our honest review of it.

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What Works

Allu Arjun’s acting as Pushpa is raw and has the same intensity and conviction that made us fall in love with the character in 2021. From the camera work, storyline and dialogues to the background score, action and chemistry between Pushpa-Srivalli & Pushpa-Shekhawat, Sukumar has checked all the right boxes in order to make you clap and hoot at several points during the 3.5 hours.

Technical Analysis

Writing & Direction

Sukumar deserves a round of applause for bringing the story of Pushpa and the things he faces after becoming the syndicate’s heads to life. Be it indirectly puppeteering things to work in his favour to make the syndicate more successful or Pushpa’s personal rapport with the different characters such as Srivalli, Shekhawat, MP Bhumireddy Siddappa Naidu (Rao Ramesh) or others, there has been attention paid to details and no lose strings. The best thing about the narrative is that Sukumar quickly gets into the core story and doesn’t beat around the bush and waste time in making a buildup.

The narrative is fast-paced and despite it being 3.5 hours you won’t feel the time flying by. The interval comes at a high point and will make sure you buy your popcorn and finish your washroom business ASAO so as to not miss even a single second of the second half. The different sub-plots – both related to Pushpa’s personal and professional lives, aren’t forced into the narrative to add content but help take forward the core story. Kudos to Sukumar for ending the film with a surreal climax that will keep you not waiting for part 3 – The Rampage to release

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Cinematography & Action

Miresłow Kuba Brożek has hit the bull’s eye when it comes to the film’s cinematography and showcasing the jungles, Pushpa’s new home, the Maldives, Japan and more. Art designer Mounika Ramakrishna also deserves recognition for the different sets created, especially the Gangammathalli Jathara one and the one involving a massive fight sequence in the second half.

Action directors Peter Hein, ‘Dragon’ Prakash, Kecha and Navakanth deserve a round of applause for delivering impactable action sequences that despite seeming unachievable still appear real and possible.

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Pushpa 2 Music

Devi Sri Prasad deserves a round of applause for the music album of Pushpa 2. The Pushpa 2: The Rule soundtrack – which includes songs such as Pushpa Pushpa, Angaaron, Peelings and Kissik, all serve a purpose and take the narrative forward. The background music by DSP and SAM CS is fire and makes watching the actioner on the big screen with surround sound even more impactful. PS: Once you watch the film you will know why the makers opted to not release any music videos.

Editing

While initially, you may ask why the film is 3.5-hour-long and whether there is unnecessary content in the film, you will have increased respect for editor Navin Nooli and his team for delivering an engaging film that doesn’t bore you despite the lengthy runtime. He manages to keep you glued to your seats by editing the Sukumar directorial in a way that doesn’t seem dragged or filled with not-wanted scenes.

Pushpa 2 Star Cast

The star of Pushpa 2: The Rule – without a doubt, is the film’s titular actor Allu Arjun. The actor – who won a National Award for his performance as the red sandalwood smuggler, has once more managed to impress as the same character. Only things time is much more intense – be it as a lover, a syndicate boss or Shekhawat’s enemy. He is unstoppable. It won’t be wrong to say that how Allu Arjun – just like his character Pushpa, is not fire but wildfire.

Fahadh Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat IPS is good as he has got crazier and deadlier in dealing with Pushpa. We only wish FaFa’s role was a bit meatier so that we could see more clashes between Pushpa and Shekhawat.

Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli impresses not just with her soft-spoken side but also the fiery side that proves her character is the perfect match as Pushpa’s life partner. She commands attention during a couple of scenes but the best of them all is her confrontation towards the end of the Gangammathalli Jathara sequence.

Jagapathi Babu, Dhananjaya, Rao Ramesh, Sunil and Anasuya Bharadwaj as well as the remaining supporting cast all deliver believable performance expected of their characters. Sreeleela – who only appears in the song Kissil, sets the screen on fire with her performance.

Conclusion

In one simple line – the action-packed extravagant – which features an epic standoff between ‘Pushpa’ Allu Arjun and ‘Shekhawat’ Fahadh Faasil is a paisa vasool entertainer filled not with just seeti-maar scenes but sequences that are sure to touch your soul too. Read our honest Pushpa 2 review to know whether or not you should watch the action-packed entertainer in theatres.

Watch the trailer of Pushpa 2: The Rule here:

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