While ‘Pushpa’ is a decent action-drama, it lacks the same depth as Sukumar’s Rangasthalam. Allu Arjun’s charisma, and the swag of his character, keep the movie a fun ride. Pushpa is a hero to most viewers, even if he is guilty of committing the worst crime in the world. The movie consists of two inter-connected parts, but the second half is tediously slow. Pushpa is only worthwhile if the performance of Allu Arjun makes up for its shortcomings.
The film follows a well-worn formula of ‘from beggar to crowned king’. Although Sukumar follows a strict formula for this ‘from a pauper to a lord’ story, he does an admirable job of writing each character in a compelling way. In some scenes, Pushpa is shown negotiating and beating goons while boasting about his style, but he has a few moments where his character becomes an unrecognizable savior.
PUSHPA REVIEW: PART 1: The film begins with an explanation of the red sandalwood business. Its heroes make an entry that is rousing, and the movie also has a high emotional quotient. Pushpa’s step brother humiliates him on her wedding day, which is the best scene in the first half. The second half of the film has some good moments, but it is not as enjoyable as the first half.
The film does have a few issues that should be addressed before it makes a big impact on the box office. First, the script is too generic. The script does not follow a story that is based on any real-life event. While the plot of Pushpa is predictable, it does not follow the usual rules of Indian cinema. Instead, it relies on a formula that works with the plot: a hero who is destined to die, and a villain who is not as attractive as he is.
The second part focuses more on Pushpa’s character and the characters who surround her. While there’s nothing overly spectacular or surprising about the character of Allu Arjun, he has done an outstanding job of inhabiting the role of Pushpa Raj. Rashmika Mandanna, on the other hand, is just okay in a de-glam role. Sunil and Fahadh Faasil have very little to do in the first part. Anasuya fails to bring the villainism to life.
While Pushpa is a commercial success, it is also a critical hit. It marks Allu Arjun’s first pan-Indian film. Previously, the actor was known only to Hindi speaking audiences after doing several Bollywood Hindi dubbed films, but Pushpa has made him a bigger star. If Pushpa is any indication, it is a definite must-watch for fans of the swashbuckling genre.
The film has earned a lot of buzz and is fast approaching the 250 crore mark. The film is rated 8.1 by critics and has more than 20k viewers on IMDb. To add to its appeal, the makers released a deleted scene from the film, which would have given a massive scene featuring Allu Arjun. This would have been a welcome addition for Telugu fans. But if you’re not a fan of the language, you can check out this film’s sequel.
