Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2

I was so hyped up for the movie Pushpa 2: The Rule, after the great prequel. However, I must say I was so disappointed watching this movie. I was actually very impressed with the first half but the second half post interval was just abysmal.

Allu Arjun shines as Pushpa Raj, with his mass scenes been presented the way fans wanted and I was happy to see the role once again. Rashmika Mandanna was also good, I must say her acting skills have improved over time. However, FaFa was a letdown, especially after the way they hyped up his role in Part 1, I was disappointed that an actor of such calibre was used in a foolish way.

The screenplay is the biggest culprit of this movie, especially in the second half, where I personally lost my interest. This was a movie with a lot of potential, but it was completely wasted.

Overall a disappointing film, a 5/10 is my review. Despite a good first half, the screenplay just got derailed and ended in a very lazy way.

Positives:

1. Acting:

• A masterclass performance by Allu Arjun.

• Rashmika does a decent job, managing to hold her own.

• Fahadh Faasil plays his role aptly and seems to enjoy it, but his character design is somewhat concerning and lacks the depth it had in the first part.

2. Cinematography:

• The movie features clean cinematic visuals, with excellent drone captures of stunning aerial shots.

• The overall quality is top-notch, with a well-maintained tone throughout.

3. Jathara Sequence:

• A standout sequence where all departments excelled, creating a memorable artistic moment.

• Allu Arjun shines in this sequence, delivering an emotionally charged performance. His dance conveys raw emotions, and his eyes reflect his character's deep longing.

Negatives: 1. Lack of a Strong Story:

• The biggest issue is the absence of a meaningful storyline.

• The movie heavily relies on ego clashes rather than building a compelling narrative.

• The screenplay is a significant blunder, with scenes that seem random and disconnected, leading to abrupt transitions without proper justification.

2. Direction and Screenwriting:

• Sukumar appears to have lost clarity, as the film prioritizes everything but progression.

• The lack of focus results in a series of events that feel aimless and repetitive.

3. Music:

• Sam CS's background score adds no value to the movie.

• The music is underwhelming, failing to elevate the scenes and often making even good moments feel dull.

• The absence of DSP's exceptional work from the first part is deeply felt.

4. Unrealistic Action:

• Pushpa defies Earth's gravity, leaping with a smooth, space-like motion that feels overly exaggerated and disconnected from reality.

5. Excessive Time Taken:

• It's baffling that a movie of this quality took three years to make. With genuine effort and dedication, it could have been completed in six months.

Pushpa 2 has finally hit the screens after much anticipation, deadlines, and controversy. Every frame exudes a high production value, with scenes full of grandeur. The film is an out-and-out Allu Arjun showcase, featuring numerous elevation moments that highlight his charisma and on-screen presence. In the second half, the story delves into the human side of his character, but these moments fail to resonate due to weak writing.

Rashmika Mandanna's characterization is underwhelming in the first half, leaning towards melodrama, though it improves significantly in the latter half with more substance. The cinematography is striking, capturing Allu Arjun from dynamic angles, while the background score enhances key moments.

However, the film's biggest flaw lies in its writing. Despite its extended runtime of 3 hours and 20 minutes, the story barely progresses from where the first installment ended. Fahadh Faasil's character, who instilled terror in the original, is reduced to a caricature, failing to leave an impact. The much-talked-about Jathara sequence is visually stunning and carries a strong message, but the repetition of similar themes and messaging towards the end feels redundant. Instead, unresolved plotlines from the first part could have been explored further.

The action sequences are decent, with occasional highlights, but the climax fight crosses the line into over-the-top territory, even by the film's exaggerated standards. The unconventional ending lacks impact and leaves the audience on a low note.

Verdict: While Pushpa 2 dazzles with its grandeur and style, it falters in delivering a compelling story. Fans of Allu Arjun will relish his performance, but the lack of narrative progression and meaningful character arcs leaves much to be desired.

Now straight out the theater this movie is no doubt a massy movies and it does all those things a typical south Indian movie does but, the plot of part one is something that made me excited for this movie in the first place. Now as the movie is massy so when I decided to watch it I already decided not to use my brain a lot and yup it actually worked this is a movie that is meant to watch in a theater with huge music system busting your ears with background music as the protagonist makes an entry and everyone in the theater are shouting and cheering ngl this does works I actually enjoyed that thing.

Action was obviously physics defying, hero being able to do literally anything but those were actually unique the action sequences in this movie and really fun to watch if you just ignore every type of logic which you actually have to specially when you are watching a massy movie. Acting done by Allu Arjun is just phenomenal he really put everything he had and properly became the character.

The plot while it was fine, but it does shifts the focus totally from the Pushpa vs Shekhawat and just introduce a totally new villian and the movie end before you even realise it because the just finish the movie and you feel that its just not complete yet which it isn't it they could have made it better.

Overall it worth watching in the theaters.

Wasn't as exciting as the first one. Liked Fahad Fasil's acting more than Allu Arjun. To me Fahad fasil stole the show single handedly. Action scenes were illogical. 3 hours 20 minutes Length was too much because there was nothing much to show in the movie. The suspense and thrill was not also up to the mark. In my opinion, the makers just made the movie in a rush and to make money, leaving alone most of the important factors. Songs were added just to increase the duration of the film. It is only because of fahad fasil I am giving 6 stars otherwise this movie does not deserve more that 4 stars.