The latest Allu Arjun starrer has garnered a mass following like a few other films. ‘Pushpa’ has become a phenomenon on social media with its daring style and appeal. The Telugu movie promises first-rate entertainment and a thrilling story that is pacy and engaging.
Although it does not squarely belong to one genre, ‘Pushpa’ is structured like an action-packed revenge drama of sorts. It sees the rise of an underdog to become a criminal overlord in the jungles of Seshachalam. This is the first part (titled ‘Rise’), and the story will continue with Pushpa as the established king of smuggling red sanders in the next.
The film’s director Sukumar does a tremendous balancing job. Not only does he create a personable character and an entertaining storyline, but he is also observant of delicate themes of poverty, casteism, and labor exploitation. As a result, ‘Pushpa’ is at all times self-aware of the people’s lives; it dramatizes to such significant effect.
Doing this requires a rare, trained set of skills and craft that directors like Sukumar bring out so well on the screen. ‘Pushpa’ has given the meme community dialogues like “Mai jhukega nahi” and “Flower nahi, Fire hai mai.” But, beyond these classic dialogues, the film is a genuine attempt to create something enjoyable and provocative in equal parts.
Pushpa Movie: Cast and Crew
This ‘Pushpa’ movie review segment will talk about the film’s cast in general. The star and lifeblood of ‘Pushpa’ are undoubtedly Allu Arjun. There are hardly any scenes in the film where he is not present. The central plotline revolves around his social circumstances and his meteoric journey towards being the biggest criminal mastermind in the area. Rashmika Mandanna stars as Srivalli, Pushpa’s love interest. The Telugu actress adds another feather in her illustrious cap of commercial blockbusters. Most of her filmography features mass entertainers.
The next prominent name on the cast list is Samantha Prabhu, albeit in a cameo appearance. Fresh from her success with ‘Family Man,’ the actress wasn’t sure at first about her dance performance. Her number is one of the most discussed aspects of the film, anyway. She didn’t do something like this before, so seeing her in this avatar was refreshing.
Director Sukumar reserves the biggest surprise of all for the end. Our own Fahadh Chetta, a.k.a. Fahadh Faasil, makes a cameo appearance in the film’s final moments, as SP Bhanwar Singh. In the sequel, we can expect him to be the center of attention with Arjun. His new, menacing look will ensure we see him play a character he hasn’t played till now. Other supporting names include Jagadeesh Pratap (Kesav), Sunil (Srinu), Dhananjaya, Shanmukh, and Ajay Ghosh (Konda Reddy brothers).
Pushpa Movie Story: Plot Synopsis
The film’s plot starts with an animated sequence about the smuggling of red sandalwood from the jungles of Seshachalam to Japan through various intermediaries. It is where we see Pushpa, whose bold and carefree attitude lead him to go into the illegal labor market. He initially starts as just another worker in the force but swiftly establishes his credentials as the leading man through his bravery and wits. His daring eventually leads him to defy the strong-minded DSP Govinda, who scares other workers and gets him a partnership deal with the Konda Reddy brothers, the local goons.
At the same time, he falls for Srivalli, the local milkman’s daughter. However, his romance is impeded when Jaali, the youngest of Reddy brothers, who have already invoked a kind of “prima nota” on the community, asks her to sleep with him. This decidedly turns Pushpa against the Reddy brothers and Srinu, the syndicate’s boss, who, as it turns out, cheats the Reddy brothers by shortchanging them for the wood. Pushpa now stands as a single man against the entire syndicate and the might of the Reddy brothers. But guess what, “Ye saala kabhi jhueka nahi”!
Pushpa Movie: Themes
‘Pushpa’ was made for the big screen and big audiences. It takes that route almost instantly as soon as the film’s first shot plays out. But like I said, director Sukumar was aware of the legwork that needed to be done to make ‘Pushpa’ more than just a popcorn film. The recreation of how the poor are still exploited and are at the mercy of the powerful sits starkly against the heroism of Pushpa. Cartelisation is another aspect that finds a place in the screenplay despite its secret identity in the real world.
This segment of the ‘Pushpa’ movie review sheds light on some of the predominantly present themes in ‘Pushpa. But, of course, if you loved the action, you must be sympathetic enough to this more delicate side of the craft!
Labor Exploitation
The rise of Pushpa truly starts when he saddles himself at an overcrowded tempo, headed towards the “illegal path.” That scene in itself is determinative of the measure of a man in the rural labor market. Men stuffed in small, closed spaces like traveling cattle to enslaved people for a living are our society’s frightening reality. It goes against the very essence of a democratic India that espouses dignity for all. There are many other instances that Sukumar uses to keep the viewer’s imagination grounded and better versed with why people like Pushpa emerge.
The Margins of Poverty
However little the film’s focus was to show the fringes where poverty places people from themselves and goodness, the impact was significant. The hopelessness and desperation that many inhabitants of Sukumar’s world professed were heartbreaking. Innumerable attempts to stray away from that characteristic of rural life marred by casteism were unsuccessful. As opposed to many other films from the South that show rare contentment living in this context, ‘Pushpa’ sinks its claws deep to do precisely the opposite.
This world shows the hunger and desires to climb out of the trappings of poverty. The lure out of the impasse takes them on a path that does not guarantee a safe path back if any. Once you have traveled the road, there is no turning back. You completely distance yourself from your former self and embrace a new identity that might not be like what you were before. In Pushpa’s case, this turns out to be irrelevant because of how dominantly Sukumar creates his straight line-like character arc. We see just a few seconds of vulnerability when people talk about his father. Beyond that, his face remains, more repulsive and determined to make a name for himself, the only way he knows how.
David vs. Goliath
One of the most common narratives in film, especially Indian cinema, is the tale of the underdog. No other choice can rouse up an audience like this. ‘Pushpa’ excessively uses this trope throughout. By the end, we see Pushpa as this messiah-like figure who cannot be undefeated. The “world against one man” notion is a common attribute of Southern cinema. Rajnikanth and many before him have been presented like this on-screen. But, as the title points out, Pushpa’s rise comes at the cost of clearing the mess of the higher-ups in his route.
His rebellion empowers him to not only take his adversaries on but outwit them and outmatch them through sheer artistry.
Final Word
There is no doubt as to Pushpa’s larger-than-life story and central character. Unfortunately, our cinema does not have many one-person shows worth the watch. Pop culture has deservedly gotten a hero of the poor who is out to take all in his stead. The sequel for ‘Pushpa’ movie review promises to be even more exciting, with Fahadh Faasil to the mix. The way his character was shown in the climax foreshadows an epic showdown between Bhanwar Singh and Pushpa.
At times over the top, the action is nonetheless a gateway to guilt-free entertainment that can hardly be denied on some of our worst days. ‘Pushpa’ movie review has presented itself after a long time as an entertaining action thriller, one that has the power to make or break careers.