Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 is a Telugu-language action drama that turns the story of a daily-wage labourer into a sprawling tale of ambition, power and survival. Directed by Sukumar and led by an intensely committed Allu Arjun, the film became a major talking point for its memorable characterisation, punchy dialogue, music and larger-than-life action. But does its nearly three-hour runtime deliver a consistently gripping cinematic experience? Here is our review of the film.
Pushpa: The Rise movie details
| Movie | Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 |
| Release date | 17 December 2021 |
| Language | Telugu (also released in dubbed versions) |
| Genre | Action, crime drama |
| Director and writer | Sukumar |
| Lead cast | Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil |
| Music | Devi Sri Prasad |
| Cinematography | Mirosław Kuba Brożek |
| Runtime | 179 minutes |
| Production | Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media |
Pushpa: The Rise story and plot
The film is set around the illegal red sandalwood trade in the Seshachalam forests of Andhra Pradesh. Pushpa Raj, played by Allu Arjun, begins as a coolie working at the lowest level of the smuggling network. He has little social standing and carries a deep resentment towards the discrimination he faces because of his family background.
Instead of accepting his position, Pushpa uses his intelligence, nerve and willingness to take risks to climb the ranks. His rise brings him into conflict with powerful smugglers, local strongmen and the police. The story follows his growing influence while exploring the ego, insecurity and hunger for recognition that shape his decisions.
Rashmika Mandanna plays Srivalli, whose relationship with Pushpa adds a personal thread to the crime drama. Fahadh Faasil appears as police officer Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, introducing a formidable new challenge as the story moves towards its final confrontation. The film deliberately leaves major conflicts open for the next chapter, so viewers should approach it as the first part of a larger story rather than a completely self-contained narrative.
Allu Arjun’s performance is the film’s biggest strength
Allu Arjun is the central reason Pushpa: The Rise works as well as it does. He builds the character through more than dialogue and action: the distinctive walk, sloping shoulder, expressions, pauses and Chittoor-influenced speech give Pushpa a recognisable personality. His performance makes the character’s confidence entertaining while allowing flashes of insecurity and anger to come through.
Pushpa is not presented as a conventional polished hero. He is stubborn, calculating and often morally difficult to support. Allu Arjun commits fully to those contradictions, giving the film a strong centre even when the screenplay slows down. His screen presence and dialogue delivery are the moments most likely to stay with viewers after the film ends.
Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil
Rashmika Mandanna brings warmth and energy to Srivalli, and her chemistry with Allu Arjun helps the lighter scenes. However, the character is not developed as deeply as Pushpa. Her role often follows familiar romantic-film patterns, and the screenplay could have given her more independence and influence on the story.
Fahadh Faasil enters as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat and immediately changes the film’s dynamic. His controlled screen presence creates the promise of a compelling battle of wills. The limitation is that his character arrives relatively late, leaving less room for the rivalry to develop fully in this instalment. Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Ajay Ghosh and the supporting cast add texture to the world around Pushpa.
Direction, action and technical aspects
Sukumar gives the film a distinctive setting and a strong sense of the red sandalwood smuggling network. The forest backdrop, earthy production design and rough-edged character styling help separate Pushpa from a generic urban gangster story. The director is particularly effective when showing how Pushpa studies people, spots opportunities and turns seemingly impossible situations to his advantage.
The action sequences are staged for scale and impact, with several confrontations built around Pushpa’s attitude as much as physical strength. Mirosław Kuba Brożek’s cinematography captures the forest environment and the film’s rugged atmosphere. Devi Sri Prasad’s songs and background score are major parts of its identity. Tracks such as Srivalli and Saami Saami became widely recognised beyond the film, while the score adds energy to key scenes.
What works and what does not
The strongest elements are Allu Arjun’s transformation, the character’s memorable mannerisms, the setting, the music and the film’s mass-entertainment moments. Pushpa’s rise through a dangerous business gives the story a clear engine, and the film has enough striking scenes to hold the attention of action-drama fans.
Its weaknesses are also noticeable. At 179 minutes, the film feels stretched in places, particularly when the story repeats familiar power struggles. Some supporting characters, especially the women, are not given enough depth. The romance can interrupt the crime narrative, and the final stretch feels more like a bridge to the sequel than a fully satisfying conclusion. The writing also relies on familiar underdog and gangster-drama conventions.
Pushpa: The Rise movie review verdict
Pushpa: The Rise is an energetic, character-driven action drama elevated by Allu Arjun’s commanding performance and Devi Sri Prasad’s music. It is not a tightly paced or perfectly balanced film, and its long runtime and incomplete-feeling climax may test some viewers. However, its setting, memorable hero, dialogue and confident mass presentation make it an entertaining watch for fans of Telugu action cinema.
AsomLive rating: 3.5/5
Should you watch it? Yes, if you enjoy larger-than-life action dramas, strong lead performances and stories about a determined outsider challenging a powerful system. If you prefer compact storytelling and fully resolved endings, be prepared for the film’s length and its sequel-focused finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pushpa: The Rise based on a true story?
No. It is a fictional action crime drama set against the backdrop of the red sandalwood smuggling trade. Its setting draws on a real-world illegal industry, but Pushpa Raj and the central story are fictional.
Who directed Pushpa: The Rise?
Sukumar wrote and directed the film. It was produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Muttamsetty Media.
Who are the main actors in Pushpa?
The principal cast includes Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, alongside Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Ajay Ghosh and others.
How long is Pushpa: The Rise?
The film has a reported runtime of 179 minutes, or approximately two hours and 59 minutes.
Is Pushpa: The Rise a complete story?
No. It is the first instalment of a two-part story and ends by setting up the conflict that continues in Pushpa: The Rule.