We feel sorry for Dhanush for the wrong reasons | Kubera Movie Review

Dhanush as Deva in Kubera

Kubera, a Sekhar Kammula directorial, featuring Dhanush in a once-in-a-lifetime role, gets a faint yes from the audience. The movie explores the life of a young man who fell into the well of begging alms by accident. Though the story moves us in a few instances, the lengthy sequences with the star cast on the run from the bad guys, pretty much sums up the film.

Dhanush gives it his all playing Deva, a kind soul living out his brutal fate as a beggar with a big smile.

Deva's life is ripe for a coming-of-age thug's tale - he is orphaned early, kidnapped and forcefully handicapped to beg alms on streets. But Director Shekhar steers clear from blood and gore.

Dhanush as Deva in Kubera

Deva accepts his twisted destiny and makes the most of it with a family of vagabonds. The kindness in his little gestures, child-like curiosity, the smile that reaches his eyes and demonstrations of raw agony were a first-class showcase of Dhanush's acting prowess.

Rashmika Mandanna as Sameera was a joy to watch as she plays a lovesick puppy, lost in a different city, forced to make it on her own. Much like her new friend, Deva. Her periodical explosions of frustration is a clear depiction of a common man's plight in a hamster wheel. We would have loved to see more heartful conversations between these two.

Rashmika Mandanna as Sameera in Kubera

Though Dhanush's story had a short prologue informing the audience on how and why he was pushed into this life, it was a passing flash with no real substance. The antagonist Neeraj Mitra, played by Jim Sarbh, is a textbook multi-billionaire. He played his part as instructed. However, it is his second man, Deepak tej, played by Nagarjuna who steals the limelight.

Naagarjuna's character sketch in the film is a stand-out as it breaks the template of a "Righteous Man". He shoulders the film with the sleek body language and spasms of integrity befitting an EX-CBI officer turned rogue. At a few instances, we forget he is the SuperStar of the Telugu industry and see him as a lost man fighting his demons in silence.

He owns the film with his aura, his modest acting abilities, ending his character arc by becoming the saviour of the day. A dutiful portrayal, indeed.

Nagarjuna in Kubera

Sekhar Kammula brought out unseen aspects of his actors - Dhanush, Nagarjuna and Rashmika Mandanna. Deva's bond with Deepak and Sameera were heartwarming to watch. The grooming sessions of the 4 CEOs' from the streets felt new on screen. The gripping scenes where Deva looses his all his friends churns the stomach and the grand finale where Dhanush becomes the hand that gives, was poetic irony.

However, Director Sekhar's obsession with driving the point home by using real garbage trucks as Dhanush and Rashmika's hide-out, a dramatic climax fight in the dump yard and long run-for-life chases stole away the intensity of this unique storyline.

To conclude, Shekhar Kammula managed to find a compelling narrative and added the most common condiments to it.

Watch Kubera on Amazon Prime now.