Kuberaa Movie Review: A Bold, Emotionally Charged Socio-Political Thriller That Never Slows Down

⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Director: Sekhar Kammula
Cast: Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, Dalip Tahil
Genre: Socio-Political Thriller, Drama
Language: Telugu
Release Date: 21 June 2025

🎬 Introduction:

Kuberaa, directed by Sekhar Kammula, is not your average socio-political thriller. It’s an emotionally raw, thematically heavy, fast-paced narrative that dares to mix class struggle, systemic corruption, morality, and idealism in a way that feels urgent and deeply human. With Dhanush at the heart of this film, it’s a cinematic experience that leaves you both moved and breathless.

🧨 Plot Summary: A Battle Between Power and Humanity

At its core, Kuberaa is a classic David vs Goliath tale told with unflinching realism. It follows Deva (Dhanush), a man from the margins of society who takes on an exploitative system that shows no mercy to the poor. From the moment a beggar is denied dignity in death, the film sets the tone: even the afterlife isn’t spared from inequality.

The plot escalates quickly into a high-stakes showdown where every act of defiance is paid in blood and guilt. Deva, driven by grief and resilience, seeks justice not just for himself but for others like him. Along the way, we meet Deepak (Nagarjuna), a morally conflicted former CBI officer, and Sameera (Rashmika Mandanna), a middle-class woman who undergoes her own quiet political awakening.

🎭 Performances: Dhanush Holds It All Together

Dhanush delivers one of his most visceral and vulnerable performances to date. He infuses Deva with rage, humility, trauma, and raw survival instinct. He’s compared to a cockroach, a dog, and an elephant — metaphors that underline his grit, memory, and loyalty — and Dhanush brings all of that to life with striking conviction.

Nagarjuna’s Deepak is a fascinating yet underdeveloped character. His moral crisis has potential for a larger arc but is sadly rushed. Rashmika Mandanna offers emotional contrast as Sameera, subtly transitioning from apathy to awareness. Supporting characters — especially Deva’s friends — get their moments too, reflecting the director’s commitment to inclusivity in storytelling.

🎥 Direction & Style: Sekhar Kammula’s Passionate Vision

This is unmistakably a Sekhar Kammula film: idealistic, driven by moral clarity, and deeply invested in the underdog. His storytelling is packed with momentum — often too much — with very little room to breathe in the first half. But this relentlessness is also a creative choice that mimics the lived reality of Deva’s world: survival never stops.

Kammula uses black-and-white flashbacks, nonlinear cuts, and even symbolic elements like food and animals to communicate trauma and resistance. The pacing might feel overwhelming, but it’s a deliberate act of urgency. Despite some scenes begging for space to linger, the emotion eventually hits — and it hits hard.

🎶 Music & Emotional Impact: A Running Tear Amid the Chaos

Kuberaa’s score adds tension and emotional layering, although it’s sometimes overshadowed by the film’s pacing. Still, moments like Deva taking a single bite before diving into the ocean showcase how even brief pauses can carry enormous emotional weight. It’s one of the most tender and heartbreaking scenes of the year.

🔍 Themes and Symbolism:

• Class Divide: The poor are not just ignored — they’re actively used, discarded, and denied dignity.

• Morality vs Corruption: Characters like Deepak are torn between justice and survival.

• Faith vs Politics: Religion here is personal, not a tool for propaganda.

• Middle-Class Apathy: Rashmika’s character represents the awakening of the ‘neutral’ class.

⚖️ Final Verdict: Ambitious, Flawed, and Fiercely Honest

Kuberaa is a cinematic tightrope walk. It stumbles occasionally — especially when rushing through critical character arcs — but always regains balance through its towering ambition, Dhanush’s powerhouse performance, and Sekhar Kammula’s unfiltered honesty.

This is not a film that panders. It’s not trying to entertain you with fluff. Instead, it compels you to reflect, question, and care — even if it means leaving you a bit breathless.