Pushpa 2 : Allu Arjun sets the screen ablaze in a wildfire of action and swag

Off late, there is hardly any movie which gave me a perfect blend of action, emotion, drama, songs; all cleverly packaged in to one high octane entertainer. Animal (2023) was one such movie last year. This year, it is Pushpa 2. 

 

Watching the sequel to Allu Arjun's 2021 pan-India hit at an early morning 6 am housefull show at Citylight Cinema, Mahim was nothing short of a celebration. The crowd was cheering, clapping, whistling, and dancing on their seats for every punch and punchline of Allu Arjun. Pushpa 2 has BLOCKBUSTER written all over it. Personally, it gave me the experience of watching a yesteryear Bachchan blockbuster. Remember Don (1978), Coolie (1983), Laawaris (1981), etc. Basically, the era which celebrated its hero like God. 

The story definitely belongs to the '80s. Pushpa (Allu Arjun) is now the chief of the red sandalwood syndicate. He still has the cop Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil) baying for his blood. In between all the tension and action, Pushpa finds time to cootchie-coo with his wifey Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna). While the plot offers nothing new, it is director Sukumar's unique execution, which deserves full marks.

 

Pushpa 2 engages you thoroughly with its montage of superlative action sequences popping up at regular intervals. The first scene itself, at a Japan port, has our hero dangling upside-down and communicating in Japanese. "I learnt it on the way", he claims. The entire 'Kali Mata' jatra sequence is awe-inspiring and we get to witness the tremendous talent of Allu Arjun here. The pre-interval "sorry" episode is another clapworthy highlight. 

 

Another hilarious scene is when both Allu Arjun and Fahadh Faasil communicate to each other in sign language. It reflects the genius of Sukumar, who has creatively turned an otherwise verbose scene in to an amusing silent duel. As for the climactic "Rappa rappa rappa" fight, it's goosebumps guaranteed!! 

Of the cast, Allu Arjun is in top most form and his swag is akin to Bachchan of the '70s. You know the angry young man of yore!! Rashmika Mandanna impresses as Srivalli, the doting wife who regularly gets "feelings or peelings" for her macho hubby. Fahadh Faasil literally uplifts every scene he appears in. Note the police station sequence where he dances merrily with a glass of whisky in hand. Superb!! Jagapathi Babu (Central minister) and Anasuya Bharadwaj (Daksha) leave a mighty mark in their supporting roles. Special mention to Shreyas Talpade, the voice of Pushpa. 

 

Pushpa 1 was fire. Part two is wildfire!! The sequel not only entertains aplenty, it leaves you craving for more. One viweing ain't enough for this one. And oh yes, there's Pushpa 3 The Carnage coming soon...aha!!

 

Ratings on some key aspects* : 

1. Acting : 4.5/5 

2. Direction : 4.5/5

3. Music : 2.5/5

4. Story, Screenplay and Dialogue : 3.5/5

5. Cinematography : 4/5

6. Editing : 3.5/5 

7. Costume Design : 4/5

8. Special Effects and VFX : 4/5

9. Action : 4.5/5

10. Production Quality : 4/5

 

#SNRating for #Pushpa2 : 4 stars out of 5. 

 

- Sumeet Nadkarni

 

- The overall film rating is not a simple average of all ratings on key aspects but a weighted average of the ratings where some crucial aspects (like direction, acting, story and screenplay etc) are assigned more weightage than others. 

 

 

#SNRatings barometer:

1 star = Poor

1 & 1/2 star = Below average/ Avoidable

2 stars = Average

2 & 1/2 stars = Above average/ Risk it

3 stars = Good enough/ Endurable

3 & 1/2 stars = Definitely worth a watch

4 stars = Very good

5 stars = Masterpiece/ Outstanding. 

 

2024 SNRatings. 

 

About Sumeet Nadkarni:

Sumeet Nadkarni is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a self-styled film critic by passion. He reviews Bollywood movies and OTT releases on his popular personal blog #SNRatings. His film-related articles have appeared in leading publications in India. With a keen eye for cinematic detail and a knack for insightful critiques, Sumeet brings a unique perspective to the world of Indian cinema. Follow him for the latest Bollywood insights and unbiased film reviews. #FilmCritique #BollywoodReviewer

Also Read: Pushpa 2: The Rule makes history with 72 Cr. opening day collection in Hindi!