Pushpa 2 Review: Flawed, But Works in Parts

 - Sakshi Post

The first part of the Pushpa franchise, Pushpa: The Rise, made an indelible impact when it was released in 2021, gaining massive success not just in Telugu but across multiple languages, with Allu Arjun’s portrayal of Pushparaj becoming iconic. The hype surrounding Pushpa: The Rule, the much-anticipated sequel, was immense. With expectations at an all-time high, did Allu Arjun and director Sukumar manage to deliver again, or did the sequel fail to live up to the monumental success of its predecessor?

Plot Overview:

The film picks up from where the first part left off, with Pushparaj now leading the red sandalwood smuggling syndicate. Amidst his rise, he faces new challenges, particularly with the political powers that try to undermine his position. Pushpa’s conflict with Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil) and his continued efforts to consolidate his power form the crux of the plot. While the film dives into Pushpa’s journey as a smuggler and the struggles within his personal life, the lack of a clear, strong antagonist detracts from the overall tension.

Performances:

Allu Arjun’s performance is undoubtedly the film’s highlight. His portrayal of Pushparaj continues to impress, especially in emotionally charged sequences like the Jathara episode and the breakdown during the climax. However, despite the high praise, there is a sense that his character remains somewhat static, with little evolution from the first film. While Arjun’s performance is top-notch, Pushpa 2 does little to explore new facets of his character, making him seem more like a force of nature than a fully fleshed-out protagonist.

Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat brings his usual charm, but his character’s lack of depth and focus makes his efforts feel somewhat wasted. While Faasil’s comic timing and screen presence are effective, the character’s true potential is never fully realized. Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli does a commendable job, particularly in emotional moments, but her screen time and involvement in the plot are limited. The film’s other supporting characters, including Rao Ramesh and Jagapathi Babu, offer good performances, but they are unfortunately overshadowed by the lack of strong narrative focus.

Technical Aspects:

While Devi Sri Prasad’s music continues to be a highlight with tracks like “Sooseki” standing out, the overall background score feels inconsistent. Sam CS’s background work, combined with some sync sound issues, detracts from the film’s otherwise polished production. Cinematographer Mirosław Kuba Brożek delivers stunning visuals, particularly in the lush green forest scenes, but the editing by Naveen Nooli feels uneven, especially in the second half, where the pacing slows down significantly. This pacing issue, combined with the lack of sharp editing, makes the film feel overly stretched at times.

Highlights and Drawbacks:

On the positive side, Allu Arjun’s career-best performance and the gripping 20-minute Jathara episode are enough to elevate the film. Sukumar’s writing shines in moments where he blends emotion with action, especially in the powerful dialogue sequences that focus on Pushpa’s relationship with Srivalli. However, despite these strong points, the film falters in key areas. The absence of a compelling antagonist leaves the story feeling directionless at times, and the various secondary villains fail to present a meaningful challenge to Pushparaj. The lack of a central antagonist makes it difficult for the film to build the necessary stakes, leaving the narrative feeling repetitive.

Moreover, while the film’s action and spectacle remain engaging, the second half feels unnecessarily drawn out. The editing could have been tighter to maintain momentum. A few sequences also suffer from technical flaws, such as the aforementioned sound sync issues.

Conclusion:

Pushpa: The Rule is a mixed bag. It certainly entertains, thanks to Allu Arjun’s powerhouse performance, Sukumar’s direction, and a few standout moments. However, the film is held back by some glaring issues, particularly the lack of a strong antagonist, uneven pacing, and inconsistent technical elements. While the film has its moments of brilliance, they are often overshadowed by its shortcomings. Nevertheless, it remains a watchable, action-packed sequel that will still appeal to fans of the franchise, even if it doesn't quite live up to the high expectations set by its predecessor.

Bottomline: A flawed but still entertaining sequel.

Rating:  
(3.25/5)


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