Pushpa 2: The Rule

Category	Details
Directed by	Sukumar
Written by	Sukumar
Dialogues by	Srikanth Vissa, Sukumar
Produced by	Naveen Yerneni, Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar
Starring	Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Sunil, Rao Ramesh
Cinematography	Miroslaw Kuba Brozek
Edited by	Naveen Nooli
Music by	Devi Sri Prasad
Production Companies	Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings
Distributed by	Multiple distributors (see below)
Release Date	5 December 2024
Running Time	200 minutes (standard), 224 minutes (Reloaded version)
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Budget	₹400–500 crore
Box Office	est. ₹1,642–1,800 crore

Plot Summary

Pushpa 2: The Rule is the second installment in the Pushpa film series, following the events of Pushpa: The Rise (2021). The film continues the story of Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun), a laborer-turned-red sandalwood smuggler, as he faces escalating threats from his enemies, including SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil). The narrative explores Pushpa’s rise to power, his battles with rival smugglers, and his ultimate quest for dominance in the illegal sandalwood trade. The film also delves into Pushpa’s personal life, including his relationship with Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) and his struggles to protect his family.

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Cast

• Allu Arjun as Molleti Pushpa Raj
• Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli, Pushpa’s wife
• Fahadh Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat IPS
• Jagapathi Babu as Central Minister Kogatam Veera Pratap Reddy
• Sunil as Mangalam Srinu
• Rao Ramesh as MP Bhumireddy Siddappa Naidu
• Dhananjaya as Jaali Reddy
• Anasuya Bharadwaj as Dakshayani “Daksha”
• Saurabh Sachdeva as Hameed
• Vithaya Pansringarm as Don Hiroshi
• Sreeleela (special appearance in the item number “Kissik”)

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Production

• Development

The sequel was officially announced in December 2021, shortly before the release of the first film. Initially, 10% of the sequel’s footage was shot back-to-back with Pushpa: The Rise, but director Sukumar revised the storyline, leading to principal photography beginning in October 2022. The film’s title, Pushpa 2: The Rule, was announced in August 2022.

• Casting

The film features most of the original cast, including Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. New additions include Jagapathi Babu and Sreeleela, who performed a special item number.

• Filming

Principal photography began in October 2022, with extensive shooting schedules in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, and Odisha. The film also recreated sets depicting 1990s Japan and Malaysia at Ramoji Film City due to budget constraints.

• Post-Production

The film’s VFX was handled by Makuta VFX, and the final cut was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in November 2024. The film received a U/A certificate with a runtime of 200 minutes.

Music

The soundtrack and background score were composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with lyrics by Chandrabose. The music rights were acquired by T-Series for ₹65 crore. The album includes popular tracks like “Pushpa Pushpa”, “Sooseki”, and “Kissik”.

Marketing and Release

The film was released worldwide on 5 December 2024 in standard, IMAX, 4DX, D-Box, and PVR ICE formats. It was also dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. The film set several box office records, grossing over ₹1,642 crore worldwide.

Reception

Critical Response

The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. While Allu Arjun’s performance and the film’s action sequences were praised, some critics found the runtime excessive and the narrative disjointed.

Box Office Performance

Pushpa 2: The Rule became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024, breaking several records. It grossed ₹280 crore on its opening day and entered the ₹1,000 crore club within eight days.

Controversies

• A stampede during the film’s premiere in Hyderabad resulted in one death and several injuries, leading to legal action against the film’s team.
• A complaint was filed against Allu Arjun for referring to his fans as an “army,” which was deemed disrespectful to the armed forces.

Future

The film’s post-credits scene teased the third installment in the series, titled Pushpa 3: The Rampage.

 

Conclusion

Pushpa 2: The Rule is a high-octane action drama that continues the saga of Pushpa Raj, blending intense action, emotional depth, and Allu Arjun’s charismatic performance. Despite its controversies, the film has cemented its place as one of the most successful Indian films of all time.