Kuberaa marks the first-ever collaboration between National Award-winning actor Dhanush and acclaimed filmmaker Sekhar Kammula. Without diving into too much detail, the film Kuberaa sets out to trace how a destitute man is drawn into the world of the ultra-rich before he rises to the occasion and begins to control the game. This trope is familiar territory in cinema, and while the writer-director uses it to his advantage, he also succeeds to refrain successfully from going overboard with Deva’s (Dhanush) heroism.
Kuberaa, alias Deepak Nagarjuna) who is essentially a nice sleuth from CBI is forced to turn a high-level fixer for a corporate conglomerate (run by Jim Sarbh( Neeraj Mithra) and his father (Dalip Tahil), while Mandanna plays Sameera, a commoner girl (comically) dealing with life’s many struggles. Kuberaa understands the importance of these archetypes, but also takes care to humanise them and draw the viewer into their world.
Deepak gathers a group of beggars from across the country to carry out the job quietly. One of them is Deva, a kind-hearted and innocent man who has no idea what he’s been dragged into. But when Deva discovers they plan to kill him, he escapes. This sparks a manhunt, with Neeraj and Deepak racing to find him before the truth unravels. On the run, Deva meets Sameera (Rashmika Mandanna), and what follows is a gripping and excruciating journey of survival, trust, and inner strength. The film is too long and towards the end, you start yawning
While the story holds promise, the first half takes its time to find rhythm. The pacing is extremely uneven, and some scenes feel stretched. The narrative occasionally slows down the flow and tests patience, hell of a lot. A few scenes come off as repetitive, affecting the momentum. With tighter editing, the first half could have easily had a lot more impact.
Dhanush’s mannerisms, vulnerability, and quiet strength are portrayed with such depth that it’s hard to look away. Nagarjuna, in a rare grey-shaded role, delivers a layered and honest portrayal. Jim Sarbh, despite limited screen time, shines as the driven and cunning Neeraj. A special mention ought to be made of Rashmika Mandana, who plays a relatively simple role, but her chemistry with Dhanush exudes lightness to the otherwise heavy narrative. Her character could have played a stronger role in pushing the story in a new direction, but alas, she remains only limited to support.
– Review by Jyothi Venkatesh
Cast of Kuberaa:
Dhanush as Deva
Nagarjuna as Deepak Tej
Rashmika Mandanna as Sameera
Jim Sarbh as Neeraj Mitra
K. Bhagyaraj as a Sadhu
Dalip Tahil as Neeraj’s father
Sayaji Shinde as Ashok Godbole, SI
Hareesh Peradi as Siddappa, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Sunaina as Shilpa, Deepak’s wife
Nassar as an orphanage caretaker
Azhagam Perumal as an engineer in the gas field
Credits of Kuberaa:
Directed by Sekhar Kammula
Written by Sekhar Kammula, Chaithanya Pingali
Produced by Suniel Narang, Puskur Ram Mohan Rao, Ajay Kaikala
Cinematography – Niketh Bommireddy
Edited by Karthika Srinivas
Music by Devi Sri Prasad
Production companies – Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP, Amigos Creations
Platform of Release- Theatres
