Kushi Movie Review: Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Chemistry Tried Hard to Add Sparks to This Feeble Romantic Drama (LatestLY Exclusive)

Kushi Movie Review: In the latter half of Kushi, there's a scene reminiscent of Vijay Deverakonda's Pan-India breakout role. No, I'm not talking about Liger (he... he...). In this scene, a woman mistakenly identifies him as Arjun Reddy (for reasons known only to her). Vijay Deverakonda's character attempts to convince her that, despite what others may say, he is a feminist at heart. However, in the subsequent scenes, he behaves precisely as you'd expect 'Arjun Reddy' to behave - mistreating his wife and even singing a song about the shortcomings of wives. What's more, there are no consequences for such behavior. Ah, some things never change... Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kushi Actress, Dazzles in Dreamy Blue Ethnic Co-ord Ensemble.

Kushi, the latest Telugu film directed by Shiva Nirvana (who is also the screenwriter), stars none other than 'The' Vijay Deverakonda (do we know any other Vijay Devarakonda?) and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in leading roles. Viplav (Vijay Deverakonda) is the son of the renowned atheist Lenin Sathyam (Sachin Khedekar), who is recently employed as an engineer at BSNL. He requests a transfer to Kashmir, claiming his love for the state, inspired by Mani Ratnam's portrayal of Kashmir in Roja. However, it seems he might have only seen the first part of the film, that is, before Arvind Swamy's character gets kidnapped.

In his state of ignorance, Viplav soon discovers that his dream location isn't as idyllic as he imagined. Yet, he promptly falls for Aradhya (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) there, mistaking her for a Pakistani girl in search of her younger brother. After some glaring instances of Islamophobia and a forced action sequence in the woods with motorbikes and bearded Muslim men, Aradhya also predictably falls for the man. Before leaving the state, she reveals her true identity.

It's then they realise that their fathers are staunch adversaries. Aradhya hails from a Brahmin family, with her father Chadarangam Srinivasa Rao (Murali Sharma) being a renowned religious preacher who frequently clashes with Viplav's father. The couple believes that convincing their fathers to agree to their marriage is their biggest challenge, though marrying each other without truly knowing one another or dating properly seems a more significant issue.

Watch the Trailer of Kushi:

Nevertheless, when their families reluctantly agree to meet, Srinivasa Rao examines Viplav's horoscope and proclaims that their marriage will be turbulent, suggesting that only a joint family ritual, or homam, involving both families can resolve the issue. Viplav's father disagrees, causing a rift between the families and prompting the couple to consider eloping. This is where the film's central plot genuinely begins, even though we're only at the interval point.

Just as Viplav once loved Roja, it appears the film has a penchant for another Mani Ratnam romantic drama, the 2001 film Alaipayuthey. In that film, the couple starts living together around the midway point and realises that romance alone cannot overcome the challenges of marriage. However, Kushi" falters in the first half with a drawn-out and weakly written love story between Viplav and Aradhya. Moreover, the incorporation of Kashmir into the love story is problematic in every sense.

Post-intermission, Kushi regains its footing when delving into the marital joys and challenges of the couple. This is where the chemistry between Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha truly shines, especially when they face their first marital hurdle - Aradhya's miscarriage - and she recalls her father's words. At this point, one expects the film to soar. Unfortunately, the director inserts unnecessary comedic scenes and portrays Viplav as an insufferable snob. In this context, the absence of a baby seems to be the least of Aradhya's problems. Kushi Song 'Osi Pellama': Vijay Deverakonda Dances His Heart Out in This Peppy Track Co-Starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

The film also follows a clichéd route by introducing another couple, portrayed by Rohini and Jayaram (perhaps an OK Kanmani influence), to counteract the marital troubles of Aradhya and Viplav. Unfortunately, even the older couple doesn't significantly contribute to the conflict, as the film culminates in a showdown between atheism and blind religious beliefs. While the film concludes with a compromise and a statement on the supremacy of humanity over any philosophy, it's clear who won the battle when, during the end credits, a child's ear gets pierced in a religious ceremony, and all the atheists are inexplicably fine with it. There's even a feeble attempt to equate it to receiving a vaccine injection. Well, at least these events align with the current political climate.

Regarding the performances, Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha do justice to their roles, particularly in portraying the ups and downs of their marriage. Their on-screen chemistry is commendable. However, the character development lets them down in several instances. Hesham Abdul Wahab's music is pleasant and appealing, while Murali G's cinematography is another strong asset for the film.

Final Thoughts

I believe that Kushi could have been a more cohesive film if it had maintained a consistent focus on the marital troubles of the lead couple. Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha make an excellent on-screen pair, and their chemistry shines even in less compelling scenes. Unfortunately, Kushi is marred by problematic writing, stretched runtime and a reluctance to take creative risks, which ultimately detracts from the overall quality of the film.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2023 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).