Kuberaa

What if billions of dollars in oil reserves could make or break a nation's future? Kuberaa opens with this tantalizing premise, weaving a web of financial espionage where CBI officers, corrupt businessmen, and shadowy power brokers circle each other like sharks.

For most of its runtime, Sekhar Kammula's thriller keeps you guessing who's playing whom in this high-stakes game of greed and justice. Then comes that ending, and suddenly, all that carefully built tension deflates like a punctured tire.

Nagarjuna delivers a compelling performance as Deepak, a disillusioned CBI officer, showcasing more emotional range than his recent commercial outings. His internal conflict feels authentic and lived-in. Dhanush, in a pivotal role, brings his trademark intensity, though his character arc feels somewhat under-explored compared to his stellar work in recent Tamil films. Jim Sarbh as the ambitious businessman Neeraj Mitra is deliciously menacing, in stark contrast to his Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys. Rashmika Mandanna, while serviceable, doesn't quite transcend the limitations of her role. Dalip Tahil is wasted in an inconsequential role.

Kammula crafts a visually striking film that tackles corruption and power with admirable ambition. The oil reserve subplot provides genuine intrigue, and the film's first two acts maintain impressive momentum. However, the resolution feels rushed and somewhat predictable, preventing what could have been a truly memorable thriller from reaching its full potential.

Despite its flawed conclusion, Kuberaa succeeds as both entertainment and a window into Telugu cinema's evolving sensibilities.

I had no expectations for Kuberaa because I didn't like Sekhar Kammula's recent movies-the last one I liked was 'Life Is Beautiful' back in 2012.

But to my surprise, I enjoyed Kuberaa. I decided to like the film in the first 30 minutes itseld because it wastes no time and dives straight into the movie's plot and establishes the equation between the antagonist and the two protagonists very clearly.

The first half is really good, with no big issues. The second half is also good because more of the story is revealed here, but it's a bit less interesting since it moves slower, has some clichés before the end, and the ending is just average.

Dhanush is great as usual-no one else could play his character. Nagarjuna is good, but he could be better; I'm not sure if it's his acting or the way his character was written, but something felt off, especially in the second half. Still, I'm glad he's doing roles that fit his age. Jim Sarbh is very good in his part. Rashmika is good too, and you can see she tried hard, especially in the real dumpyard scenes. DSP's music is okay.

Overall, Kuberaa could have been better but I was satisfied and happy that Sekhar Kammula is still in the race and he is not dated yet. Especially I liked how he shot realistic backstories of Deva and Dipya - this added some originality and authenticity to the charecters and the movie.

"Kuberaa" (2025) emerges as a significant showcase for Dhanush, who delivers a truly stunning, arguably career-best performance. His transformation and embodiment of the character are captivating throughout. However, despite this central strength, the film is hampered by its excessive length and a rushed climax that ultimately undercuts its impact.

Dhanush is the undeniable highlight of the film. His portrayal of a complex character is nuanced, raw, and deeply compelling, demonstrating his exceptional range and commitment. He elevates every scene he's in, making it a performance worthy of major accolades.

The film, directed by Sekhar Kammula, attempts a multi-layered narrative delving into financial crimes and societal power structures. The initial premise is good, offering an intriguing setup that promises depth and engagement. The supporting cast, including Nagarjuna and Rashmika Mandanna, also deliver strong performances, adding to the film's overall quality.

However, "Kuberaa" struggles with its pacing, particularly in the middle sections. The narrative feels protracted, and there are moments where the film becomes tiring, losing the viewer's consistent engagement. This extended runtime dilutes the impact of the unfolding events. Furthermore, the climax, despite the preceding build-up, feels rushed and doesn't land with the emotional punch or narrative satisfaction it should have, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential.

While "Kuberaa" is a good film with a compelling core and a standout performance from Dhanush, its length and a weak, hurried ending prevent it from reaching the heights it otherwise could have achieved.

Could have easily cut down the total run time to 150mins, felt like I was in for a long chase right from the moment Deva escaped from the baddies. And to top that some of those chase sequences felt repetitive and tired. But Dhanush did a fine job in portraying the role of a beggar, he literally got himself immersed in the character and made us feel like we were watching the life of a real beggar. Rest of the characters too did a great job in their roles. And coming to the score, at times it was good especially the one for Neeraj(played by Jim Sarbh). Overall a decent film with some shortcomings.