The one scene that did leave a mark is when Pushpa delivers a monologue to convince other crime lords of his point, but that had more to do with the actor's performance than anything else. Allu Arjun Apologises to a Journalist for Being Late at Pushpa’s Press Event in Bengaluru. The three-hour runtime also begins to nag you at this point. It confirms that Pushpa really had nothing novel to offer as its anti-hero takes down one opponent after another. Rise it did, but the feeling that did so was boredom. I had hopes for the second half to live upto the title and 'rise' from its average writing. Even the much talked about jungle fight sequence where Pushpa takes on his enemies, while blindfolded and hands gagged only passes muster. I understand the slo-mo sequences add a stylish quality to the scenes, but it takes away the rawness and the brutality required. In fact I was disappointed with the stunt choreography of the movie. The love track was also entertaining because it allowed us to see the light-hearted side of Allu Arjun's performance. The interval point when Pushpa shows the first revolt against his masters sparkles a bit, though the action sequence that followed was a let down. It is quite stylishly shot, though the VFX used in showing the logs flowing through the waters felt shabby. The one sequence that does stand out in the first half is when Pushpa and his men push the smuggled logs into the river before the cops raid their place. Though, his lopsided gait reminded me of how mimicry artistes in Kerala used to imitate superstar Mohanlal. However, in setting up Pushpa's character and in getting mesmerised seeing Allu Arjun sinking easily into the role, nailing the dialect and the mannerisms right, the first half is watchable even when the portions exude nothing new. If it was not Allu Arjun's smashing performance, Pushpa would have lost its steam even before the interval arrives. Pushpa is nearly predictable from the start to the end, with the undefeatable hero overcoming his barriers with immaculate finesse as if he is playing a videogame on the easiest mode available. It is the writer in Sukumar that lets down the film, as there is nothing fresh in what he serves for his protagonist. As a director, Sukumar gives a polished treatment to Pushpa's rise through the ranks, while also maintaining the crude, rusting setting in which the characters carry on their crimes and bloodshed, throughout.