Movie: Pushpa
Genre: Crime Drama
Cast: Allu Arjun, Rashmika, Fahadh Faasil, Sunil
Director: B Sukumar
Produced By: Naveen Yerneni, Y Ravi Shankar
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: Miroslaw Kuba Brozek
Runtime: 179 minutes (2hrs 59mins)
Story
Pushparaj (Allu Arjun) is a Coolie in Red Sandalwood Business in Seshachalam Forest Area, Andhra Pradesh. His dream is to become the kingpin of Red sandalwood smuggling business. In order to make that happen he wins One of the heads in the business, Konda Reddy's(Ajay Ghosh) trust in smuggling Red sandalwood without police noticing it and eventually reaches Mangalam Srinu (Sunil). As the time goes, there comes a situation where Pushpa confronts Mangalam Srinu and throws a challenge. What is the challange? What comes happens next? Will Pushpa win this battle? How will Shekhawath (Fahadh Faasil) become a hurdle to Pushpa's dream? This forms the rest of the story.
Artiste Performance
Allu Arjun is Terrific as Pushpa. His attitude, swag, slang and dialogue delivery steals the show completely. He carries the film on his shoulders throughout. This is one of his best performances.
Rashmika is excellent as Srivalli. She emotes very well in some crucial scenes. Her chemistry with Allu Arjun is neat. Samantha sizzles in the item song and attracts the masses.
Sunil gets a superb makeover as Managalam Suri. He is wicked and does complete justice to the role and So does Anasuya who too does a fabulous job in limited screen time.
Fahadh Faasil enters in the pre climax episode and has a very limited screen time. Even though he has got few minutes to perform, he gave his best and nails it as shekhawath.
Ajay Ghosh, Dhanunjay, Shatru and Ajay are good in their roles. Rest of the cast have done their part.
Plus Points
Allu Arjun's Stellar Performance
Most of the scenes in first half
Pre "Interval" Episode
Srivalli Saving Fight scene
Cinematography
Emotional weight
Drawbacks (Which I Felt)
Pacing
Background Score
Climax could have been better
Analysis
Pushpa promised to be a realistic crime drama from its promotional material like teaser, trailer and songs and delivers it. Right from the word go its Allu Arjun who does his best to keep the audience arrested to the screen. His character has good depth and is handled in a great way. Allu Arjun's transformation as a Ghoni, his Chitoor dialect, attitude, swag and punchlines everything works big time and are major highlights of the movie.
First half completely focuses on establishing the initial conflict between Mangalam Srinu and Pushpa. It shows how Pushpa has come all the way to face off Managalam Srinu with his tactics to smuggle Red sandalwood without the police knowing it. All those efforts Pushpa puts to smuggle or hide the sandalwood are excellently portrayed.
Pushpa and Srivalli love track provides few laughs in the first half and Srivalli song is shot well. Scenes involving Pushpa and his friend/Assistant generate good fun.
First half has got good engaging moments. Pre-Interval to Interval episode is intense and is another major highlight of the movie. It sets the right stage for an even more engaging second half.
Second of starts off with the same intensity the first half ended. But as the movie progresses we eventually see it's pace dropping.
All the important characters are introduced, their arcs are set and left. Proceedings of second half feel like a trailer for Pushpa: The Rule. Directors tries to establish the characters here which he will explore in the next part. Though it feels dull at times, movie got it moments of heriosm and fan pleasing moments.
As the movie enters pre-climax, Fahadh enters as Shikhawath. His charected is introduced in a stunning way and ends abruptly.
Though the conflict point set between Shikhawath and Pushpa is strong, the portrayal could have been better. A set of Audience may feel it a little over the top. This makes the climax a little disappointing and movie ends on a could have been powerful yet a strong note.
Editing of the film definitely could have been better in the second half. Music by DSP is amazing but Background score is a let down for most of the part. BGM during interval and climax episodes is terrific. Cinematography and Visuals are Top Notch. Mythri Movie Makers have done a spending Job with Production Values.
Director Sukumar impresses with the realistic set up and narration in the first half. Its the second half where he gets a little messy trying to introduce all the characters. He promises to strongly define the character arcs in the second part as the movie ends.
(MY) Final Word
Pushpa is a movie that completely depends on Allu Arjun's performance. Its hard to Imagine someone else in the role of Pushpa. This film doesn't fail to engage you till interval but gets a bit sluggish from there on. On a whole, Pushpa ends up as a an Engaging, raw and rustic portrayal of a Red sandalwood smuggling don's rise.
Bottomline: Watch it for "PUSHPA" Raj!!
Note: This is my take on the movie. That is why I am not rating the movie. I respect each and every movie. Making people read my review and influencing them to form an impression on a movie before watching the movie is never my intention. I am a Movie lover too. This is just to express my view on the movie. 😊
Review by a Movie Lover