Divya
Nair
applauds
Pushpa:
The
Rule.
There
is
more
than
one
reason
why
Pushpa:
The
Rule
is
among
the
most
awaited
films
of
2024.
Director
Sukumar
and
Allu
Arjun
began
their
successful
journey
with
the
Arya
franchise
and
took
it
up
a
notch
higher
with
Pushpa:
The
Rise,
which
became
one
of
the
highest
grossers
of
2021.
The
fact
that
Allu
Arjun
hasn’t
taken
up
any
project
since
2021
was
also
a
test
of
patience
for
his
pan-India
fans,
most
of
who
have
pre-booked
their
tickets
and
thronged
theatres
to
watch
it
on
the
first
day
of
release.
The
prequel
ended
with
Allu
Arjun’s
rise
from
a
mamooli
red
sandalwood
coolie
to
the
head
of
the
smuggling
syndicate.
Each
time
someone
hurt
his
ego,
we
saw
how
Pushpa
would
aim
higher
and
give
us
a
moral
lesson,
as
if
to
justify
his
criminal
activities.
Needless
to
say,
we
had
seen
him
make
more
foes
than
he
had
planned
to
in
the
first
installment.
Pushpa
2
is
about
the
smuggler
king’s
ruthless
dominance
over
the
market.
The
entry
scene
takes
place
at
a
port
in
Japan
where
the
mafia
men
try
to
stop
Pushpa,
by
tying
one
of
his
legs
and
hanging
him
upside
down.
The
stunts,
right
from
that
sequence,
is
proof
that
Allu
Arjun
is
the
star
of
disruption.
Whether
you
tie
his
legs
or
cuff
his
hands,
Pushpa
will
fight
back
and
how!
Each
stunt
is
choreographed
with
brilliance,
and
Allu
delivers
it
to
perfection.
His
mid-air
moves
are
swift,
clean,
and
creative,
and
the
slow-motion
scenes
are
effective
for
theatre
audiences.
When
his
wife
Srivalli
(the
fiery
Rashmika
Mandanna)
requests
him
to
take
a
picture
with
the
chief
minister
of
Andhra
Pradesh,
she
wouldn’t
imagine
the
extent
he
would
go
to
make
it
happen.
Among
the
many
people
standing
in
the
way
of
his
ambition
is
Inspector
Bhanwar
Singh
Shekhawat
(the
fabulous
Fahad
Faasil),
a
worthy
antagonist
who
challenges
Pushpa’s
every
move.
Fahadh’s
mean,
narcissistic
villain
streak
continues
in
Pushpa
2
—
Shekhawat’s
evil
smile
doesn’t
mask
his
arrogance.
And
each
time
Shekhawat
tries
to
outsmart
Pushpa,
the
latter
puts
him
back
in
place,
sometimes
with
an
extra
dose
of
humour.
The
scene
where
the
two
men,
standing
on
either
side
of
the
fence,
talk
in
Dumb
Charades
is
epic.
Kuppuraj’s
(Brahmaji)
timely
interceptions,
only
add
spice
to
their
conversation.
Perhaps
the
scene
is
a
subtle
doff
to
FaFa’s
character
from
Aavesham
(if
you
know,
you
know).
The
apology
scene,
the
simmering
face-off
between
Shekhawat
and
Pushpa
is
neatly
written
and
accomplished.
The
Jatra
dance
and
stunt
scene
will
probably
go
down
in
history
as
one
of
Allu
Arjun’s
finest
performances
in
a
film.
Like
he
promises
in
the
trailer,
Pushpa
takes
bigger
risks
and
attracts
more
enemies
along
the
way,
either
to
fulfill
his
wife’s
desires
or
to
protect
his
niece
from
a
bunch
of
goons.
Allu
Arjun
is
fantabulous
as
the
doting
husband,
emotion-loving
son
and
risk-taking
entrepreneur.
Pushpa
escalates
his
brand
from
fire
to
wildfire.
Rashmika
as
Srivalli
outperforms
herself
as
the
companion
worth
rooting
for:
Fiery,
independent
and
grounded.
The
music
and
background
score
by
Devi
Prasad
is
a
sweeping
hit
already.
What
I
continue
to
dislike
about
the
Pushpa
franchise
is
the
portrayal
of
its
women.
We
are
in
2024.
Do
we
still
need
to
show
a
male
protecting
a
woman
from
a
bunch
of
rapists?
The
makers
could
have
thought
a
little
more
unconventionally
and
let
the
woman
take
charge.
It
would
have
added
a
whole
new
dimension
to
smuggler
Pushparaj,
the
man
who
respects
women
so
much
that
he
would
hesitate
to
cuss
in
their
presence.
Allu
Arjun
promises
a
rollicking
ride
of
emotions
—
from
humour
and
romance
to
dance
and
emotions,
action,
and
revenge,
which
is
amplified
by
the
presence
of
Fahadh
Faasil,
who
rightfully
deserves
a
plump
role
in
the
next:
Pushpa:
The
Rampage.
The
climax
lingers
with
an
emotional
touch
as
Pushpa’s
elder
brother
and
his
family
accept
and
warmly
welcome
him
home
for
his
niece’s
wedding.
Just
when
you
are
wondering
what
happened
to
the
other
potential
antagonists
who
were
sidelined,
the
movie
ends
with
Pushpa‘s
not-so-well-wishers
coming
together
with
Shekhawat
leading
from
the
front.
What
do
you
think
would
make
the
rampage
worthy
enough
for
Pushpa
3?
Pushpa:
The
Rule
Review
Rediff
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