Director Sukumar attempts to replicate the magic of Pushpa: The Rise in its sequel, Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2, but the film struggles to sustain its momentum. While Allu Arjun remains a commanding presence, delivering a consistent performance, the movie often falters under the weight of its grand aspirations.
The story picks up where the first installment left off, with Pushpa’s (Allu Arjun) empire expanding beyond Indian borders. Now a devoted husband to Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna), Pushpa is anything but tamed, continuing his reign as a red sandalwood smuggler. However, his adversaries—corrupt cop Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil), rival smugglers Mangalam Srinu (Sunil) and Daksha (Anasuya Bharadwaj), and even his estranged half-brother Mohan Raj (Ajay)—ensure his path is far from smooth.
Sukumar’s screenplay relies heavily on the formula that propelled the first film to success, but it often feels overstretched and contrived. The film’s focus on reinforcing Pushpa’s invincibility sometimes sacrifices logic and subtlety. While certain high-octane sequences are engaging, others come across as overblown and tedious.
Cinematographer Miroslaw Kuba Brozek, who shone in the first film, continues to deliver visually stunning work, ensuring that Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 is technically polished. However, the uneven pacing and lackluster plotting diminish its impact. The first two hours feel disjointed, lurching between action-packed flashpoints and melodramatic sequences, all centered around Pushpa’s defiant “jhukega nahi” persona.
The film’s climax pivots away from Pushpa’s face-off with Shekhawat to explore his fraught relationship with his half-brother. This shift leads to an explosive finale, complete with Pushpa channeling Goddess Kali in a ferocious avatar—an extension of the film’s maximalist tendencies.
While Allu Arjun’s performance remains the film’s strongest asset, the inconsistencies in the story and the over-reliance on spectacle make the 200-minute runtime feel like a slog. Fahadh Faasil adds depth to the proceedings, but even his presence can’t rescue the film from its structural flaws. Rashmika Mandanna and Kalpalatha (as Pushpa’s wife and mother, respectively) provide moments of emotional grounding, but their roles are limited.
In an attempt to address past criticisms of glorifying toxic masculinity, the film incorporates scenes highlighting Pushpa’s softer side, including awkwardly placed intimate moments and a song where he dons a sari in devotion to Goddess Kali. While these efforts may have been intended to add layers to his character, they often feel jarring amidst the chaos.
By the time the credits roll, teasing Pushpa: The Rampage as the final installment, it’s hard not to feel exhausted. Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 may have its moments of brilliance, but it ultimately buckles under its own ambition, leaving audiences longing for the magic of the original.
