This action thriller stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna (primarily the former) and is set in Seshachalam and centres on red sandalwood smuggling. Pushpa Raj (Allu Arjun) is a red sandalwood smuggler who is progressively rising through the ranks.
He moves from being one of many in Seshachalam who cut down trees and sell them by the kilo to the bigwigs to being the one who gives Konda Reddy smuggling ideas (Ajay Ghosh). Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) is the girl he likes, but first he has to deal with DSP Govindappa as well as his feud with Jolly Reddy (Dhananjay).
The opening part of Pushpa Raj takes its time establishing Pushpa Raj's persona as a guy who does not believe in lowering his head to anyone. He may be referred to as a "coolie vada," yet his thinking allows him to rise above it all. Sukumar writes an engrossing storey that keeps you fascinated as long as the plot stays true to the larger issue at hand. The visual effects aren't great, but it's easy to get lost in this story of guys who want to humiliate each other, with Mangalam Srinu (Sunil) playing a key role.
The art directors (S Rama Krishna and Monica Niggotre) and cinematographer Mirosaw Kuba Broek's expertise elevate the images.
Overall, Pushpa is a template gangster drama involving the rise of the protagonist.