A flower for women, wildfire for his adversaries – Beyond Bollywood

Glorification of a smuggler, scant regard for nature, yet one is in awe of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa Raj. Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil too put on quite a show.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

Writer-director Sukumar’s Pushpa: The Rise (2021) was a sensation, with most of India captivated by the swag of its unconventional, gangly sandalwood smuggler, Pushparaja. It propelled Allu Arjun to the status of a true pan-India star. In recent memory, there had never been greater anticipation for a sequel than Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024). The excitement heightened as Mythri Films set new benchmarks in film promotions. In a historic move, Pushpa 2: The Rule became the first Telugu film to have a trailer launch in Patna, Bihar, where nearly two lakh people gathered to see Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. This only added to the craving for Pushpa.

The phenomenon has finally arrived in theatres worldwide. Its title clearly indicates that this sequel is all about Pushpa’s reign. The first film began with a wedding in Japan, and writer-director Sukumar repeats that setting in the sequel. However, this time, there is no wedding but a thrilling action scene at the dockyard. Remember, Andhra’s rare red sandalwood has a strong market in Japan. Why did Pushpa decide to pay them a visit? Well, it’s best that viewers see for themselves.

For a change, we will critique the film by first highlighting its major flaws.

The story continues from where it left off, with SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat desperate to hunt down Pushpa and his fellow smugglers. He catches his men red-handed and puts them behind bars. One of those arrested is set to be wed that night. Pushpa has vowed to the bride that he will bring her groom. Shekhawat isn’t at the station, but an old cop finds himself in a pickle. Pushpa orders him to release the groom, but upon learning that Shekhawat has beaten all his men, the kingpin demands the release of his gang.

The cop pleads that he and his colleagues will lose their jobs if they heed this outrageous demand. In a scene slightly reminiscent of Pablo Escobar in Narcos, Pushpa asks the cops how much money they would need to quit their jobs and live comfortably for the rest of their lives. Loyalties are bought easily, with Pushpa declaring that in this region, there’s only Pushpa rule. By the time Shekhawat and his subordinate Nathu Lal arrive, the station is empty, with just one cop, Govind, not compromising on his integrity. Your reviewer is the same, and we hope that Allu Arjun, Sukumar, and co. will take this film review in the right spirit.

Circumstances led Pushpa, a poor labourer, to take to the illegal sandalwood trade. Having risen as the head of the syndicate, our fears over this franchise glorifying criminal activities come true with the sequel. Despite every such film claiming to be a work of fiction, filmmakers ought to be responsible that their content doesn’t condone illegal activities. Cinema isn’t supposed to be a moral class, and nor do people take to crime watching such films, but seeing audiences cheer Pushpa’s methods of smuggling doesn’t set the right message. Pushpa is entertaining, but he can never be a role model.

Of course, such illegal activities can never take place without political backing. The CM of the state doesn’t care how Pushpa gets him funds. It is disturbing to see how Pushpa is projected as above state, above law and order. He is the de facto ruler in the Sandalwood region. Surely, the forest department and the Union Government at the Centre can’t allow a man to call all the shots in the woods. Sukumar and Arjun have perhaps got carried away in their portrayal of Pushpa Raj.

The first film has received some criticism over female representation. Rather than strike back, Sukumar should be lauded for taking the criticism in the right spirit. The Pushpa in Pushpa 2: The Rule is projected as a true feminist, one who respects every woman in his family and his town. Here is a man who will move the world if any harm comes to his wife, mother, or any woman in the village, but not once does he think about mother nature. He may be a Robin Hood for his people, but there shouldn’t be any empathy or hailing of a smuggler like Pushpa. While a corrupt state government can give Pushpa a free hand, surely the Indian government or Indian Armed Forces won’t be blind to the nation’s natural resources being smuggled out of the country in gigantic proportions. There is talk of Pushpa perhaps smuggling red sandalwood to China. Phew, can this man really be a hero?

The other bizarre aspect is how, when the top brass in the state government is involved in the illegal smuggling, there wouldn’t be any obstacle. Shekhawat is no saint, but he’s proving to be a thorn in Pushpa’s side. In an ideal world, the mandarins would take out such a cop. Pushpa, though, is not in favor of Shekhawat being transferred or killed. He has now started to enjoy his tussles with the Rajasthani cop based in Andhra. If Pushpa doesn’t see Shekhawat as much of a threat, it disappoints the audience who were expecting an epic battle in the sequel. There is no empathy for Shekhawat, but you do feel for the humble cops in the state, who, despite being aware of the mafia-political nexus, are rendered helpless.  

Enough of the flaws; now let’s reveal what is good about this film. Pushpa 2: The Rule is largely driven by the stellar performances of its three leads – Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Honestly, the overall casting is top-notch. Allu Arjun had established Pushpa as a brand both on and off the screen before. The challenge here was: can this larger-than-life character get any larger?

Though a crime-action drama, Pushpa has struck a chord with his personal conflict. From his childhood, Pushpa has been mocked for not having a surname and never having his father around. The caste and class conflict didn’t need to be spelled out. Pushpa’s longing for respect for his mother would never come from his upper-caste stepbrother. We saw in the first film how he fought for the honour of his mother and girlfriend. However, there was also criticism of his courting of Srivalli (Mandanna), with some calling it sexist. Back then, we defended it, citing how the film was set in the 90s and in a small rural village. Director Sukumar has perhaps taken stock and chosen to correct that by portraying the feminist side of Pushpa. The Jathara act in a saree, praying to have a daughter because, after marriage, she will have a surname, and often listening to his wife—this is not how we perceive notorious smugglers to be. Jeez, the political upheaval in the story ultimately boils down to the Chief Minister refusing to acquiesce to Srivalli’s request for him to be photographed alongside her husband. Pushpa 2.0 is a dream for every feminist lady, and Allu Arjun happily embraces his feminist side here.

For his family, he lives up to his flowery name, but for his adversaries, Pushpa metamorphoses into a wildfire. In one moment, he is performing the Gangamma (Wildfire) Jathara, and then, when unknown evil arrives at his soiree, Pushpa fights like Goddess Durga. One evil guy on his lap, the other on his feet, gives rise to the Sherawali Mata in Pushpa.

The Pushpa-Srivalli married life does have a few silly moments, especially their failure to control each other’s urges, but it has its own flavour. From an out-and-out crime thriller, Sukumar has done a balancing act with the family drama. Allu Arjun delivers a stellar performance in Pushpa 2, effortlessly balancing the character’s raw intensity with a deeper, more nuanced portrayal of Pushpa’s evolution.

We’d watched Pushpa: The Rise (2021) in the original Telugu language (with English subtitles). We chose to view the sequel in dubbed Hindi. It is here that one mustn’t undermine the phenomenal efforts of Shreyas Talpade as the voice of Pushpa in the Hindi versions. Never before have we associated Talpade with swag, but the versatile actor surprised everyone with his powerful tone. He was quick to gauge the mood of Pushpa in every scene. His switches to the Mumbai lingo added to its mass appeal. As much as Hindi audiences have loved Pushpa, even Arjun would acknowledge that without Talpade, this character wouldn’t have gained pan-India popularity.

While Arjun is a seasoned pro, Rashmika Mandanna has taken huge strides as an actress. She was miserable in Ekta Kapoor’s woke family drama Goodbye (2022). Mandanna showed promise in Mission Majnu (2023), and then Animal (2023) propelled her to new career highs. Pushpa 2 is the coming of age of Rashmika. I guess such boundless love from her husband makes Srivalli a happy person. Mandanna’s natural jovial personality helps her play her part with conviction. Ideally, you’d expect the wife of a smuggler, kingpin to have some swag too, but it’s Srivalli’s humble nature that also rubs off on Pushpa. She is so innocent that she starts feeling guilty for inadvertently triggering the political mess. As an actor, Mandanna is flawless, but you also ought to admire her mesmerizing dance, particularly in the Feelings track.

Fahadh Faasil is arguably one of the top actors in the country. The conflict in the second film perhaps robs him of an epic Shekhavat vs. Pushpa battle, but Faasil has no complaints. The cunning, feared cop from Pushpa: The Rise gives way to a more amusing Shekhavat in the sequel. Faasil is equally brilliant. From baying for each other’s blood, both Shekhavat and Pushpa perhaps start enjoying their cat-and-mouse runs. Credit to Shekhavat for getting an apology from Pushpa. Yes, the man who wouldn’t bow to anyone does momentarily apologize to Shekhavat. The child-like joy on Faasil’s face is timeless. Here’s a wiry, bald guy who doesn’t need six-packs or gaudy looks to play intimidating characters. You need passion, and Faasil has plenty of it. While he has no say, the great actor would have wished for the dubbing artiste to tone down the Rajasthani accent in the Hindi version.

The Pushpa franchise stands out for its quality all-around cast. Sunil as Mangalam Srinu and Anasuya Bharadwaj as Daksha naturally return to the fold, seeking revenge for their kin. The sequel introduces two new antagonists in Pratap Reddy (Jagapathi Babu) and his evil nephew Bukka Reddy (Tarak Ponnappa). We’re introduced to the latter, and doesn’t this guy look like a lusty demon from hell?

There is no Srivalli or Oo Antava Mawa here, but Shreya Ghosal’s Angaaron Ka and Lothika’s Kissik tracks are high entertaining numbers. Oh, boy, what a dancer we have in Sreeleela, who leaves you stunned with her dance moves in Kissik. Allu Arjun had the best show, but he too shows he can match Sreeleela step for step.  Besides, Nora Fatehi has serious competition in Sreeleela

At 200 minutes, Pushpa: The Rule (2024) largely engages you. The second-half screenplay is of higher quality. The penultimate raid stretches all the way to Sri Lanka, where Sukumar turns the emerald sea red with a fleet of boats carrying the smuggled red sandalwood. The cinematography of Pushpa 2: The Rule is striking, with a raw, gritty style that complements the film’s intense narrative. The visuals are enhanced by the talented work of cinematographer Mirosław Bieliński. The climactic action is a bit over-the-top as Pushpa takes down his enemies despite his limbs being tied. Didn’t we see him kill while blindfolded and his arms tied in Pushpa 1?

Glorifying a smuggler who exploits nature—these are valid criticisms, but director Sukumar, Allu Arjun’s film is likely to spread like wildfire among audiences who crave larger-than-life cinema. Yeh Pushpa nahi jhuknewala. Be prepared for Pushpa: The Rampage in future.

Watch the video review below.