Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings’ Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 (dubbed from the Telugu film of the same name; UA) is the sequel to Pushpa: The Rise Part 1.
Pushparaj alias Pushpa (Allu Arjun), who started out as a coolie, working for a red sandalwood smuggler, had risen to become the head of the syndicate of all sandalwood smugglers. This sequel traces Pushpa’s rise to become the veritable ruler of his town and of sandalwood smugglers, and his fierce battle with the psychotic and ruthless police officer, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil). It also shows the intensity of his love for wife Srivalli (Rashmika Mandana). He loves her so much that he can do anything to make her feel happy. Although a supremely tough man, Pushpa is a very emotional person at heart. He is still very sad about the fact that his half-brother, Molleti Mohan Raj (Ajay), ridicules him on the slightest pretext as he is the illegitimate child of their father (who is no more). Pushpa wishes from the core of his heart that his mother and he get the respectability and name of his father.
Sukumar has penned an extraordinary story which takes the first part’s drama forward. The story keeps the viewers engaged from the start till the end. Sukumar’s screenplay is so outstanding and so wholesome that it will entertain people of every age group and all kinds of audience — young and old, men and women, girls and guys, masses and classes. The drama has plenty of highlight scenes and sequences. The sequence showing how Pushpa ‘wins over’ an entire police station is hilarious. Pushpa’s dance while he is clad in a saree is beyond extraordinary. His action in the climax sequence (when he has to save his niece, Kaveri) is so beautiful in concept that the audience will not tire of clapping, whistling and applauding. This action sequence, in particular, is supreme in conceptualisation and execution. Actually, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the drama has a number of claptraps and highlight sequences. The best part of the screenplay is that it balances all the three parts — Pushpa’s business and rise, his relationship with the wife, and his tension with his half-brother — so wonderfully that it becomes a wholesome entertainer. If the action climax is terrific, the emotional climax thereafter is equally remarkable and it will be adored by the family audience. The scene in which Srivalli gives Pushpa’s half-brother a piece of her mind is exceptional. Frankly, there are so many highlights in the screenplay that it is impossible to list all of them in a review. Rajendra Sapre’s dialogues are gems (original dialogues in Telugu are by Sukumar) and will evoke claps and whistles at a number of places.
Allu Arjun does an exceptional job in the role of Pushpa. He is so outstanding that he should pick up all the awards, including the National Award, this year for acting. His attitude, his style, his acting, his action and stunt scenes, his expressions, his dances… they are all so wonderful that this is one performance which the world will remember for years to come. Shreyas Talpade’s dubbing for Allu Arjun, like in the first part, deserves special mention; it is phenomenal. Rashmika Mandana lends great dignity to her character with a mature performance. Her ‘feelings have been aroused’ scenes are superb. Fahadh Faasil shines as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. His acting is so terrific that watching him on screen is nothing short of a delightful experience. He uses his body language so beautifully that one can’t help but marvel at his genius. Rao Ramesh delivers a very fine performance as Siddappa Naidu. Sunil is first-rate as Srinu. Anasuya Bharadwaj leaves a superb mark in the role of Srinu’s wife, Daksha. Jagapathi Babu has his moments as Prathap Reddy. Ajay does a mind-blowing job in the role of Pushpa’s half-brother, Molleti Mohan Raj. Brahmaji, playing Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat’s assistant, is lovely. Pavani Karanam is good as Molleti Mohan Raj’s daughter, Kaveri. Saurabh Sachdeva is just too lovely as Kaveri’s kidnapper and Prathap Reddy’s nephew. Kalpalatha makes her presence beautifully felt in the role of Pushpa’s mother. Dhananjaya is very good as Jaali Reddy. Ajay Ghosh shines as Konda Reddy. Shanmukh is superb as Jakka Reddy. Jagadeesh Prathap Bhandari makes a wonderful impression as Kesava Mondelu. Master Dhruvan is endearing as young Pushpa. Sritej impresses in a brief role as Pushpa’s other half-brother, Molleti Dharma Raj. Sreeleela looks sexy and dances beautifully in the Kissik song-dance number. All the others provide immensely praiseworthy support.
Sukumar’s direction is outstanding. His narrative style is such that people of all age groups and all kinds will find the drama entertaining and engrossing. Sukumar has written an extremely commercial script and then narrated the drama in a memorable style! Devi Sri Prasad’s music may not be as outstanding as in the first part but let it be said that all the songs in the sequel are very tuneful and will grow in popularity in the coming days. Raqueeb Alam’s lyrics are mass-appealing. Song picturisations (by Ganesh Acharya, Shekhar and Vijay Binni) are truly remarkable. The dance steps are novel and although the steps are rather difficult, all the dances are so graceful that the choreographers and the actors need to be lauded. Devi Sri Prasad and Sam C.S.’s background music is just too superb; it enhances the impact of the drama manifold. Miroslaw Kuba Brozek’s cinematography is simply remarkable and award-worthy. Action and stunt scenes (choreographed by Peter Hein, Dragon Prakash, Kecha and Navakanth) are earth-shattering. There is so much freshness in the stunts that the viewers will often stare in disbelief at the action sequences. In particular, the climax action sequence is so brilliant that the cinema halls will echo with thunderous applause, claps and whistles. S. Ramakrishna and Monica Nigotre’s production designing is lovely. Naveen Nooli’s editing is razor-sharp. Dubbing (by Manav Mahapatra of Rudra Sound Solutionz) is so wonderful that it doesn’t look like a dubbed film.
On the whole, Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 is an unstoppable, unbelievable, unprecedented blockbuster. It has the merits to become the biggest ever grosser in Hindi cinema — yes, it does!
Released on 5-12-’24 at Inox (daily 20 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: extraordinary. Opening: historic. …….Also released all over. Opening was earth-shattering everywhere.