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Kuberaa Review: Dhanush & Nagarjuna Shine in Sekhar Kammula’s Gripping Crime Drama

Director: Sekhar Kammula
Cast: Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh
Language: Telugu, Tamil, Hindi
Runtime: 184 minutes

Kuberaa is Sekhar Kammula’s bold leap into the crime drama genre. Known for feel-good romances and slice-of-life narratives, Kammula surprises audiences with a gritty, morally layered tale of power and poverty. With Dhanush and Nagarjuna at its core, the film is a thoughtful exploration of how greed corrupts and ambition fuels chaos.

Plot & Themes

The story follows Dhanush’s character, a man born in poverty who crawls his way up to unimaginable riches, becoming Kuberaa — a modern king of wealth. Nagarjuna plays a brilliant chartered accountant with secrets of his own, complicating the power dynamics. Rashmika Mandanna’s character adds emotional gravity and tension to the central conflict.

Kuberaa is not a mindless crime saga — it’s philosophical, asking uncomfortable questions about what we value and what we sacrifice to gain it. The narrative flips between gritty street life, high-stakes boardrooms, and raw emotional breakdowns.

Performances

Dhanush once again proves he is an acting powerhouse. His portrayal of a man both pitiable and terrifying is immersive and heartbreaking. The transformation scenes — from rags to opulence — are shot with raw realism.

Nagarjuna is equally magnetic. He doesn’t just play a rich manipulator but brings a moral ambiguity that leaves the audience guessing his true motives. His chemistry with Dhanush is electric.

Rashmika Mandanna breaks her usual mold with a complex role that demands vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Her character’s arc surprises with shades of darkness.

Technical Brilliance

Niketh Bommireddy’s cinematography is stunning — rain-soaked alleys, claustrophobic backrooms, and sprawling mansions are captured with the same care. Devi Sri Prasad’s score adds pulse to tense scenes and heartbreak to quieter moments. Karthika Srinivas’s editing keeps the pacing tight, despite the long runtime.

Audience Response

Initial reviews praise the film for daring to blend mainstream masala with thought-provoking questions. Advance bookings indicate strong box-office prospects, especially in Telugu-speaking regions and among pan-Indian audiences curious about Dhanush’s versatility.

Criticism

Some may find the pacing a tad indulgent in the second act, and the lack of peppy commercial songs could limit its mass appeal slightly. But for audiences craving layered storytelling over formulaic thrills, Kuberaa is a rewarding watch.

Final Verdict For Kuberaa Review

Kuberaa is a brave film that takes risks. It is not just about wealth; it is about the cost of acquiring it. Sekhar Kammula crafts an intense crime drama that holds a mirror to society’s obsession with power and money. Dhanush and Nagarjuna’s powerhouse performances elevate the film to a must-watch status for serious cinema lovers.

If you appreciate character-driven narratives with moral dilemmas, add Kuberaa to your weekend watchlist. It’s not perfect, but it’s powerful.