Pushpa: The Rise is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Sukumar. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Muttamsetty Media, the film stars Allu Arjun in the title role of Pushpa Raj, alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Sunil and Dhananjaya. It is the first instalment of a two-part saga, formally titled Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1, and centres on the red sandalwood smuggling network in the Seshachalam Hills of Andhra Pradesh.
| Title | Pushpa: The Rise (Part 1) |
|---|---|
| Language | Telugu (with simultaneous Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada releases) |
| Director | Sukumar |
| Writer | Sukumar |
| Producers | Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar (Mythri Movie Makers); Y. Naga Vamsi (Muttamsetty Media) |
| Lead cast | Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil |
| Music | Devi Sri Prasad |
| Cinematography | Miroslaw Kuba Brozek |
| Editing | Karthika Srinivas R., Ruben |
| Theatrical release | 17 December 2021 |
| Genre | Action drama |
| Series | Pushpa franchise |
The film draws on the real-world phenomenon of red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) smuggling from the Seshachalam forest range in the Tirupati region of Andhra Pradesh. Red sanders is an endemic species protected under Indian forest law, and its illicit export, primarily to East Asian markets, has been a long-standing law-enforcement issue in the state. Director Sukumar conceived the project as a two-part story tracing the rise of a daily-wage coolie within this smuggling syndicate.
The project was officially announced in 2020, with Allu Arjun cast in the lead following his collaboration with Sukumar on Arya (2004) and Arya 2 (2009). Rashmika Mandanna joined as the female lead, while Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil made his Telugu debut as the antagonist, Superintendent of Police Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.
Pushpa Raj, an illegitimate son who is denied his father's surname, begins as a labourer in the red sandalwood smuggling chain operating out of Chittoor district. Through cunning and ambition, he climbs the syndicate's hierarchy, partnering with the local kingpin Konda Reddy and clashing with rival smugglers Mangalam Srinu and Jolly Reddy. The first part culminates in a confrontation with the newly transferred SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, setting up the sequel.
Principal photography began in late 2020 and continued through 2021, with shooting carried out in the forests around Maredumilli in East Godavari district, as well as locations in Hyderabad, Kerala and Visakhapatnam. The schedule was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the makers to release the film as two parts rather than a single feature. Choreography for the song "Srivalli" was handled by Ganesh Acharya, while the signature step associated with the film became a widely imitated cultural marker.
The soundtrack was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and released by T-Series and Aditya Music. Tracks such as "Srivalli", "Daakko Daakko Meka", "Saami Saami" and "Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava" (featuring a special appearance by Samantha Ruth Prabhu) achieved widespread popularity across Indian languages. The Hindi version's "Srivalli" was rendered by Javed Ali.
Pushpa: The Rise was released theatrically on 17 December 2021 in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada. The Hindi dubbed version, distributed by AA Films, performed exceptionally well in North Indian markets, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi releases of the year and reviving large-format theatrical business after the pandemic-related slowdown. The film began streaming on Amazon Prime Video in early 2022, with the Hindi version premiering on Disney+ Hotstar.
At the 69th National Film Awards, Allu Arjun won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance, becoming the first Telugu actor to receive the honour in that category. The film also won several Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA awards, including recognition for music and performances.
The film is regarded as a landmark in the pan-Indian theatrical model, demonstrating that a Telugu production with strong regional rooting could achieve nationwide commercial success in dubbed versions. It significantly elevated Allu Arjun's profile beyond Telugu-speaking states and contributed to the wider visibility of Telugu cinema in Hindi-speaking markets following the success of Baahubali and RRR. The character's mannerisms, dialogue ("Pushpa naam sun ke flower samjhe kya, fire hai main") and shoulder gesture entered popular culture across India.
The follow-up, Pushpa 2: The Rule, was announced as the concluding part of the saga, with the principal cast and crew returning. It continues the conflict between Pushpa Raj and SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.