Pushpa: The Rise, a rural masala film loaded with punch lines, has Sukumar stepping into the new ground. It includes people communicating in a Chittoor dialect and a plot that is deeply entrenched in the place it is set in. Although there were high hopes were following Rangasthalam, what he delivers is a bit hit and miss that is over-long starts to falter at moments and achieves what it claims at others.
Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun) is among the few coolies in Seshachalam who drastically cut red sandalwood and traded it by the kilo to the power and influence. However, Pushpa soon discovers establishing his way in a network of many players, rising through the ranks until the man who cut down trees is the one issuing the commands. But unfortunately, his weak point is neither Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) nor the bigshots Konda Reddy, Jolly Reddy, or Mangalam Srinu.
It’s the truth that his brother won’t allow him to identify his ancestry, which quickly elevates Pushpa from zero to one hundred. It frequently causes this spread, cynical, arrogant, and even hilarious man to lose his cool. As he is about to achieve his goals in life, IPS Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat arrives, attempting to destabilise the cleverly crafted system that Pushpa has established.
The storyline of Pushpa: The Rise is often addressed in movies — the rise of the disadvantaged. So, Sukumar has almost nothing fresh to discover here. What’s different is the manner he decides to stretch the tale and take time building Pushpa’s characterisation for a three-hour movie before diving into the action. Despite all of the fanfare, that is what this picture is. Pushpa may have created many enemies, but none are quite a match for his unyielding character, i.e., until Shekawat arrives in town.
Sukumar’s movie works best when it stays true to the subject and concentrates on the details of red sanders trafficking, Pushpa’s help to smooth things up, and so on. However, the movie falls short when it attempts to pull off an unusual (and troublesome) love between him and Srivalli that doesn’t always connect or add to the more significant subject at hand. Yes, Pushpa gets to be her prince, but it appears to carry the drama in the same route it would have gone regardless. The climactic showdown between Pushpa and Shekhawat likewise falls short of expectations, coming off as quickly, and even his personality is uninspiring.
The VFX, graphic direction, editing, and sound design are disappointing in certain parts. The Pushpa: The Rise team could not cover up that they had to hurry the film to launch it on time, which shows through the gaps. Considering the excessive run-time, the technological faults highlight the shortcomings. However, most of the film succeeds in casting, directing, cinematography, costumes, and music. Certainly, Devi Sri Prasad’s BGM might sometimes be unimpressive, but his music more than compensates since it meshes beautifully with the tale.
Sukumar’s Pushpa: The Rise shows the potential as it closes up and prepares for its Part 2. Despite being a bit hit or miss, the movie does stimulate your interest in what’s coming next.
