Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Pushpa struggles to sustain his sandalwood smuggling business in the face of tough opposition from the police.

My Take – Released in 2021, at a time when the Indian box office, particularly the Hindi belt, was struggling to attract numbers, Pushpa: The Rise, a Telugu-language action-drama film written and directed by Sukumar, found immense success all over.

With the mainstream audience lapping up the origin story of a coolie, who with his skill and unfaltering attitude, rises through the ranks of the sandalwood smuggling syndicate in the Chittoor district of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Armed with viral sequences, excellent performances and a popular soundtrack, the Allu Arjun starrer unsurprisingly ended its run as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Now 3 years later, designed to be a national sensation, the high-octane sequel is in no mood to dilute the formula of being an epic mass entertainer. Losing no opportunity to push and broaden the scope and appeal. While the first film (which I personally was not a fan of) set the stage, this much awaited follow-up elevates the experience to new heights, delivering an even grander spectacle with bigger action sequences, more moments crafted for mass appeal and even more fiery dialogues.

But while the resulting 200-minute-long film is undeniably better than most capsule pan-Indian films, it too suffers from overreaching. As from the outset, director Sukumar is more focused on making the installment bigger than its predecessor. However, his efforts often feel forced, as these grand elements don’t always integrate into the narrative.

Most surprisingly, despite its long duration, it ends with unanswered questions, leaving the stage open for part three, Pushpa – The Rampage, which if current reports are true, won’t arrive before 2030 at the least.

Opening with an extended over the top action filled prologue set in Japan, the story heads back to sometime after the events of the first film and once again follows Pushpa (Allu Arjun), who is now a doting husband to Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), but is anything but domesticated. As the leader of the syndicate, his empire of crime is now wider than ever. Well served by a battalion of smugglers who never let the thought of betrayal cross their minds, the axe-wielding criminal’s writ runs unchallenged in the forest that he lord over.

However, when a thwarted photo op hurts Pushpa’s ego big time. He resolves to make the chief minister of the state pay a price for the effrontery and throws his weight behind MLA Sidappa (Rao Ramesh). To ensure success, he even spreads his wings beyond the shores of India and swings a mammoth red sander deal with a Dubai-based buyer Hamid (Saurabh Sachdeva).

Facing trouble only in the form of Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil), the corrupt SP, who upon facing humiliation at the hands of Pushpa is determined to tear down his business at all costs.

Bolstered by one swaggy set piece after another, it sure is hard not to be entertained by the loud narrative. Director Sukumar’s remarkable skill and unwavering belief in the world he has created plays a crucial role in the film’s engagement. Even though the film simply just lurches from one point to another. Each bringing out the import and scope of Pushpa’s smartness and daring attitude.

Even when his much-hyped battle with Officer Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat hurtles towards what appears to be a culmination, it throws it to the sideline in the final hour. Making the whole effort yield mixed results.

Though a couple of the film’s set pieces work reasonably well, it does stray into stretches that are unconscionably contrived, overstretched and mounted simply to reinforce the protagonist’s aura of invincibility, logic and gravity be damned. In comparison, the original film felt natural and rooted as the sequel frequently overextends itself and its ambition often works against it.

The same goes for the equation between Pushpa and his now-wife Srivalli that remains awkwardly cringeworthy.

Thankfully, director Sukumar incorporates subtle humor through the quirks and mannerisms of his characters, whether it’s Pushpa Raj, Banwar Singh Shekhawat, or the supporting cast. Each character has a distinct identity that enriches the experience. Even when the film seems to linger towards the end, the emotional payoff in the climax redeems it, providing satisfying closure to Pushpa’s internal conflicts.

Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight of the film is Allu Arjun who manages to ascend to a new echelon in his career with a transcendent turn. The Jathara sequence will be considered a landmark moment in his career and bound to be celebrated for years to come. Proving yet again that, unlike most of his peers, he is an artiste who will continue to redefine the boundaries of performance.

Fahadh Faasil is chillingly entertaining throughout. As a formidable antagonist, he matches Allu Arjun’s intensity with an unhinged performance that deserves to be praised. Although Rashmika Mandanna has fewer moments to shine, she delivers well in scenes requiring restraint. The massive supporting cast ensures the world of Pushpa remains immersive. On the whole, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule‘ is a mass entertainer that surpasses its predecessor in every scale possible.