The highly anticipated sequel, “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” starring Allu Arjun, has faced a significant delay in its release. Initially slated for an August 2024 release, the film’s launch has now been pushed to December 6, 2024. This delay has left fans eagerly waiting for the next chapter in the Pushpa saga.
Directed and written by Sukumar, “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner. The film features an ensemble cast, including Fahadh Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna, Dhananjaya, Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Rao Ramesh, Ajay, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Shanmukh, and Ajay Ghosh, all reprising their roles from the first installment, “Pushpa: The Rise.”
The film’s production journey has been eventful. Initially, 10% of the sequel’s footage was shot back-to-back with the first part. However, Sukumar decided to alter the story to meet audience expectations and correct any perceived shortcomings from the original film. This decision led to the principal photography commencing in October 2022.
“Pushpa 2: The Rule” is being made on a staggering budget of ₹500 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films to date. The film’s production has seen various locations, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, and the Malkangiri district of Odisha. The shooting has faced several challenges, including a temporary halt due to the director’s dissatisfaction and a bus accident involving crew members.
The film’s cast has also seen some additions and changes. While most actors from the first part have reprised their roles, Jagapathi Babu joined the cast in April 2023 for a pivotal role. There were also reports of Sreeleela being offered an item song, which she later rejected, leading to Disha Patani being roped in for a special song.
The film’s post-production has been equally eventful. Initially, editors Karthika Srinivas and Ruben were handling the editing, but due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences, they were replaced by Naveen Nooli. The VFX work is being done by Makuta VFX, with RC Kamalakannan serving as the visual effects supervisor. Resul Pookutty and Vijay Kumar are the sound designers, ensuring that the film’s technical aspects are top-notch.
The music for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with lyrics by Chandrabose. The music rights have been acquired by T-Series. The first single, “Pushpa Pushpa,” was released on May 1, 2024, followed by the second single, “Sooseki (The Couple Song),” on May 29, 2024.
Marketing efforts for the film have been robust. The first-look poster and an announcement glimpse video were released on April 8, 2023, coinciding with Allu Arjun’s 41st birthday. Fahadh Faasil’s first look was unveiled on August 8, 2023. The teaser of the film was released a year later, on April 8, 2024, marking Arjun’s 42nd birthday.
The film’s distribution has also seen significant deals. The North India distribution rights were acquired by AA Films for ₹200 crore. The distribution rights for North America were secured by Prathyangira Cinemas and AA Creations. E4 Entertainment and N Cinemas acquired the Kerala and Karnataka distribution rights, respectively.
“Pushpa 2: The Rule” will be released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam, making it the first Pan-Indian film to release in Bengali. The digital streaming rights have been acquired by Netflix, while the satellite rights are with Star Maa.
Despite the delay, the anticipation for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” remains high. The film promises to deliver an action-packed drama with a compelling storyline and stellar performances. Fans are eagerly counting down the days until December 6, 2024, when they can finally witness the next chapter in the Pushpa saga.
