Ram Gopal Varma reviews Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 : ‘Very rare that a star ignores his own image’

In a long post shared on his social media accounts, Ram Gopal Varma praised Allu Arjun and the character of Pushpa to the hilt.

Ram Gopal Varma praises Allu Arjun and Pushpa 2.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma doesn’t have a filter. While he often finds himself in hot water due to an unfiltered statement, it has also become a hallmark of his character. RGV’s recent straight-from-the-heart social media post was earmarked for his appreciation of the pan-Indian blockbuster, Pushpa 2: The Rule. In a long post shared on his social media accounts, Varma praised Allu Arjun and the character of Pushpa to the hilt.

He wrote, “It is extremely rare that Indian films have sharply etched characters and it is even more rare that a star himself will ignore his own image and literally become the character.” Explaining how Allu Arjun was convincing in the titular role, RGV said that the portrayal made him believe that Pushpa was a character that exists in reality. “That is not an easily achievable feat considering that the character has been placed in the middle of a very commercial mainstream format which by its very definition suspends reality.”

ALSO READ | Ram Gopal Varma on the violence in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal: ‘Ranbir Kapoor’s scenes haunt me even now’

Ram Gopal Varma also delved deeper into the intricacies of the character and pointed out that it had an eclectic mix of characteristics like “innocence blending with cunning” and a “super ego mixed with vulnerability.” Interestingly, he pointed out how the lopsided shoulder of Pushpa, which is actually a physical deformity, never stopped the audience from believing that Pushpa is a superhero. “I never ever believed that a deformed guy can be a super action hero because by the very definition a super hero is expected to be perfect. But in Pushpa’s character, Allu Arjun turned that deformity into such a force and a much more stronger strength giving rise to never before seen body language and gestures which will imprint on the audience’s memory for decades to come as a reference point,” wrote RGV.

Continuing his admiration for Allu Arjun’s performance, the filmmaker pointed out how it was a very thin line between being convincing as Pushpa and becoming over the top in scenarios that are already unrealistic. “All Arjun performed it with such pitch perfection that even some unrealistic scenes seem real, thus creating a seamless blend wherein it is difficult to tell whether the character is giving rise to the film or the film is giving rise to the character,” said Varma, adding, “The consistency of Allu Arjun’s performance doesn’t stop just with his body language , but also carries forward to his deepest emotions too.”

Doling out examples from the film where Pushpa has to mix ‘hurt with ego’ when a character refuses to click a photo with him, or apologising to another character after getting drunk, Ram Gopal Varma succinctly said, “Sorry to say this but after immensely enjoying the journey through Pushpa’s character I think even the original Allu Arjun will fall short.”

This is indeed high praise coming from a filmmaker who is known for etching characters with multiple layers.

Story continues below this ad

ALSO READ: Pushpa 2 box office collection Day 3: Allu Arjun juggernaut becomes fastest film to breach Rs 500 crore club

Meanwhile, Pushpa 2: The Rule is showing no signs of slowing down as the film has amassed almost Rs 600 crore at the global box-office, and has become the fastest Indian movie to breach the Rs 500 crore mark.

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.