My quick take on Allu Arjun’s “Pushpa”
Kaka's dialogue "Pushpa, I hate tears" still rings in my ears, and now comes another Pushpa who bashes people so hard that they are in tears. As I write this review for a two-day-old release, the makers of "Pushpa-The Rise" will be popping the cork on a bottle of champagne for surpassing the Rs 100 crores mark in less than two days. Without a doubt, this is "the blockbuster" film of 2021 (Kabir Khan's 83 has a tough rival to beat (tougher than the mighty Windies)).
When it comes to creating a blockbuster massy entertainer, the Telegu film industry is without a doubt mile ahead of the competition. Like Bahubali, this will be a pan-India hit due to Rajanikantish action, raunchy item songs, comedy, melodrama, and iconic dialogues. Surprisingly, the Hindi dubbing of the dialogs and songs is excellent (excellent work – Shreyas Talpade).
This is my first Allu Arjun film; I've heard he's a "Huge" star in the Telegu industry. Let me tell you, this guy is cool; his swag, body language, and unusual dance moves make him one. Another reason I chose to watch this movie was the enigmatic Fahad Fasil, this chameleon-like actor slips into any character with ease, and while he has very little to showcase in this Part -1, I am sure we are in for a treat in the Part-2 (Pushpa-The Rule) whenever it is released.
Following the pan-India success of KGF, the makers of Pushpa were undoubtedly inspired to create a similar plotline about an underdog making it big in the underworld. We've seen it before, from Salim Javed's Dewaar to Mani Ratham's Nayakan: a small-time coolie earns a big-time ticket by smuggling Red Sandalwood from Andhra's jungles and shipping it to global markets. His cat-and-mouse games with local cops and forest officials keep the plot moving. The story has subplots of romance and dance numbers where the number of dancers outnumbers the pixels on the screen to keep the frontbenchers warm. Because of these mindless subplots, the film's running time has increased to 3 hours, but Pushpa (Allu Arjun) compensates for this tardy elongated screenplay by packing a punch both orally (Pushpa ko flower Nahi samzhna, wo fire hai) and physically. Few of the action scenes are simply outstanding, particularly the one in which Pushpa is blindfolded in the jungle and escapes while wearing the blindfold – take a bow, Allu.
I loved the movie's setting in the lush green tropical jungles of south India; the cinematographer did an excellent job of capturing pristine landscapes (top drone shots are simply wow). Like KGF, the makers' selection of bloodthirsty antagonists is commendable, because to highlight the hero's "mardangi," a suitable villain should be included in the plot.
Though it has a ghisa pita plot, mindless song and dance tracks, outlandish action scenes, and some cheap and crass comedy, director Sukumaran's presentation of the same wine in different bottles makes it a watchable product.
If you enjoy full-length time-pass movies, don't miss Pushpa.
I can't wait to see my favorite actor, Fahad Fazil, in Pushpa- The Rule (part 2)
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