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“Pushpa 2: The Rule” is shaping up to be an eagerly anticipated sequel in the Indian film industry. Directed and written by Sukumar, the film features an ensemble cast led by Allu Arjun in the titular role, along with Fahadh Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna, Dhananjay, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, and Anasuya Bharadwaj reprising their roles from the previous installment. Produced by Naveen Yerneni and Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner, the project promises to deliver high-octane action and drama.
Initially, 10% of the footage was shot alongside the original film, but Sukumar’s decision to tweak the storyline necessitated further principal photography, which commenced in October 2022. With a whopping budget of ₹500 crore, “Pushpa 2: The Rule” ranks among the most expensive Indian films ever made. Scheduled for release on 15th August 2024, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, the film is poised to captivate audiences with its thrilling narrative and larger-than-life performances.
The cast of “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is packed with talented actors bringing their characters to life:
– Allu Arjun portrays the lead role of Pushpa Raj.
– Rashmika Mandanna stars as Srivalli, Pushpa’s wife.
– Fahadh Faasil appears as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekawat IPS.
– Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari plays the character Kesava “Mondelu,” Pushpa’s friend.
– Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Sunil, and Anasuya Bharadwaj are also part of the ensemble cast, with their specific roles yet to be revealed.
– Rao Ramesh portrays MP Bhumireddy Siddappa Naidu.
– Ajay Ghosh takes on the role of Konda Reddy.
– Dhananjaya appears as Jaali Reddy.
– Shanmukh portrays Jakka Reddy.
– Ajay plays the character Molleti Mohan, Pushpa’s elder half-brother.
– Sritej appears as Molleti Dharma Raj, Pushpa’s second elder half-brother.
– Mime Gopi portrays the character Chennai Murugan.
– Brahmaji appears as Sub-Inspector Kupparaj.
– Kalpalatha plays the role of Parvatamma, Pushpa’s mother.
With such a diverse and talented ensemble, “Pushpa 2: The Rule” promises to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience.
The development of “Pushpa 2: The Rule” began before the release of its predecessor, “Pushpa: The Rise,” in 2021. The filmmakers initially announced the film to be released in two parts, with the first part scheduled for release in 2021 and the second part in 2022. Initially, 10% of the sequel’s footage was shot concurrently with the first part. However, director Sukumar decided to modify the sequel’s story to meet audience expectations and address any perceived shortcomings from the previous film.
By July 2022, the scripting phase of the film was completed in Hyderabad. The official title, “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” was announced on 22 August 2022, coinciding with an inaugural muhurat puja ceremony held in Hyderabad with the film’s cast and crew.
Sukumar wrote the script for the film, with Srikanth Vissa contributing to the dialogues. The production retained most of the technicians from the previous part, including cinematographer Miroslaw Kuba Brozek, editors Karthika Srinivas and Ruben, art director S. Ramakrishna and Monica Nigotre, and sound designers Resul Pookutty and Vijay Kumar. Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma served as costume designers, while Preeti Sheel Singh was hired as the character designer. Stunt directors included Peter Hein, Kecha Kamphakdee, Dragon Prakash, and Nabakanta. Dance choreographers for the film included Prem Rakshith, Ganesh Acharya, Vijay Polaki, and Shrashti Verma.
The casting for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” saw the return of several actors from the first part, including Allu Arjun, Fahadh Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna, Dhananjaya, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, and Ajay Ghosh, who reprised their respective roles. Additionally, Jagapathi Babu was brought on board for a pivotal role in April 2023.
Initially, there were reports that Sreeleela was offered an item song but later turned it down. Subsequently, it was reported that Disha Patani was cast for a special song in the film.
Principal photography for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” commenced with a test shoot on 30 October 2022 in Hyderabad. In January 2023, an action sequence was filmed in Visakhapatnam, followed by scenes shot in Bangalore in March 2023.
There were rumors suggesting that filming was halted due to the director’s dissatisfaction, but these were later proven false, and shooting resumed after a brief pause. Forest sequences were captured in the Malkangiri district of Odisha in April 2023.
Jagapathi Babu joined the cast in April 2023, while Fahad Faasil and Rashmika Mandanna joined the sets in May and June 2023, respectively.
A bus carrying crew members met with an accident near the Vijayawada–Hyderabad Expressway on 3 June 2023. In August 2023, scenes were filmed in Ramoji Film City, and filming resumed in Hyderabad in November 2023.
However, filming was postponed in December 2023 due to Allu Arjun’s health. It resumed in March 2024, with sequences shot in Vizag and at the Yaganti Temple.
Reports suggested that the makers allocated ₹60 crore for a six-minute sequence, which included the Gangamma Jatara performance and a fight sequence. In April 2024, a significant underwater sequence was filmed in Hyderabad.
In the post-production phase, editing was carried out by Karthika Srinivas and Ruben. The film’s visual effects were executed by Makuta VFX, with RC Kamalakannan serving as the visual effects supervisor. Resul Pookutty and Vijay Kumar took charge as the sound designers.
Similar to the previous installment, Shreyas Talpade lent his voice for Allu Arjun’s character in the Hindi version of the film.
The film’s music is crafted by Devi Sri Prasad, with lyrics for the Telugu version penned by Chandrabose. T-Series secured the music rights for the film. The first single, “Pushpa Pushpa,” was launched on 1st May 2024, setting the tone for the film’s musical journey.
Here’s the tracklist:
1. “Pushpa Pushpa”
– Lyrics: Chandrabose
– Singers: Nakash Aziz, Deepak Blue
– Length: 4:16
The promotional campaign for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” kicked off with the release of the first-look poster and an announcement glimpse video on 8th April 2023, which also marked Allu Arjun’s 41st birthday. A year later, on 8th April 2024, coinciding with Arjun’s 42nd birthday, the teaser of the film was unveiled, further building anticipation among fans.
The theatrical release of “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is slated for 15th August 2024, coinciding with India’s Independence Day. It will hit screens in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam languages, making it the first Pan-Indian film to release in Bengali.
