Has
anyone
in
recent
years
played
an
anti-hero
that
you
want
to
hate
but
also
can’t
stop
watching,
asks
Mayur
Sanap.
Whether
you
like
Pushpa
or
not,
it
is
undeniable
that
Allu
Arjun’s
titular
role
of
a
rowdy
smuggler
is
one
of
the
most
exciting
screen
characters
put
out
there
in
recent
years.
The
2021
film
spun
into
box
office
success
and
won
Arjun
a
National
award.
The
swag
and
style
that
the
actor
brought
to
Pushpa
became
a
pop
culture
phenomenon
that
gave
us
a
zinger
like:
‘Pushpa
ante
flower
anukuntiva?
Fire!
(Did
you
think
Pushpa
was
a
flower?
I
am
the
fire!)’
The
sequel
is
here
and
you
can’t
go
in
without
expectations
for
Pushpa
2
that
marks
Arjun’s
return
to
his
iconic
role.
Pushpa
2:
The
Rule
takes
forward
the
story
tracing
Pushpa’s
rise
into
the
most
influential
member
of
the
red
sandalwood
syndicate.
The
first
part
ended
with
a
cliff-hanger
that
shows
us
the
beginning
of
the
enmity
between
Pushpa
and
Inspector
Bhanwar
Singh,
played
by
Fahadh
Faasil.
While
we
don’t
see
key
plot
developments
in
the
trailer,
it
is
expected
that
much
of
The
Rule
will
be
a
cat-and-mouse
game
between
the
gangsters
and
the
cops
with
Arjun
and
Faasil’s
showdown
at
its
centre.
Hopefully,
Faasil’s
vengeful
villain
will
have
bigger
screen
time
this
time
around.
The
women
continue
to
be
incidental
to
the
story
as
we
see
a
glimpse
of
Rashmika
Mandanna’s
Srivalli,
who
is
now
married
to
Pushpa.
This
romantic
sub-plot
was
the
most
problematic
part
of
the
first
film
with
its
glaring
misogyny.
One
hopes
the
makers
have
taken
the
edge
off
on
this
front.
There’s
also
a
brief
glimpse
of
Sreeleela
who
takes
over
from
Samantha
for
a
special
dance
number.
Another
Oo
Antava
Maama
in
the
offing?
We’ll
see.
The
star
of
the
show
is
unquestionably
Allu
Arjun
who
goes
out
all
guns
blazing
for
the
sequel,
very
evident
in
the
trailer.
Has
anyone
in
recent
years
played
an
anti-hero
that
you
want
to
hate
but
also
can’t
stop
watching?
His
mannerisms,
flashy
get-up
and
some
well-shot
action
choreography
create
an
interesting
combination
of
the
familiar
and
the
fresh,
and
there’s
no
doubt
that
Arjun’s
performance
will
be
the
movie’s
highlight.
The
trailer
ends
on
a
high
note
with
a
slight
tweak
to
the
iconic
line:
‘Pushpa
naam
sun
ke
flower
samjhe
kya?
Fire
nahi,
Wildfire!
(Did
you
think
Pushpa
was
a
flower?
I
am
Wildfire!)’
I
can
already
hear
the
crowdd
hollering
to
that.
Pushpa
2:
The
Rise
arrives
in
cinemas
on
December
5.
