🎯 Premise & Plot
Kuberaa revolves around an audacious financial conspiracy. Neeraj Mitra (Jim Sarbh), a powerful tycoon, discovers a hidden offshore oil reserve and enlists former honest CBI officer Deepak (Nagarjuna Akkineni), now jailed, to orchestrate a massive money‑laundering operation. Deepak recruits beggars—led by the visually impaired Deva (Dhanush)—as unwitting fronts for benami accounts. When Deva discovers the deadly agenda, he escapes, prompting a tense manhunt and a fight for dignity and survival, with a runaway, Sameera (Rashmika Mandanna), adding a humanizing subplot The Economic Times+15www.greatandhra.com+15The New Indian Express+15.
🧑🎭 Performances
Dhanush steals the show. His portrayal of Deva—frail but resolute—captures raw humanity through meticulous body language and emotional vulnerability, earning praise as possibly the best in his career . Nagarjuna delivers a nuanced performance as Deepak, walking the line between moral conflict and survival desperation BizzBuzz. Jim Sarbh, as the calculating Neeraj, exudes subtle menace, and Rashmika Mandanna adds warmth, though her role is underdeveloped The Times of India+15Cinema Spice Entertainment+15Filmfare+15.
Supporting actors do solid work, but the emotional bond between Deva and Deepak could have been explored in greater depth Munsif Daily+14TeluguBulletin.com+14123telugu.com+14.
🎥 Direction & Screenplay
Sekhar Kammula steps out of his comfort zone with this gritty, morally complex crime thriller. The concept—using beggars as conduits in a political-corporate money-laundering plot—is refreshingly original and socially charged The New Indian Express+12www.greatandhra.com+12Munsif Daily+12. The first half is tightly structured, establishing characters and the conspiracy with clarity and tension The Economic Times+15www.greatandhra.com+15ABP Live+15.
However, at approximately 181–182 minutes, the film is long-winded. The second half loses momentum with repetitive sequences and a climax that feels both rushed and formulaic Gulte+12Cinema Spice Entertainment+12www.greatandhra.com+12. Subplots—like Sameera’s arc and minor henchmen threads—sometimes appear underdeveloped and padding-laden The Times of India+7Cinema Spice Entertainment+7Gulte+7.
🛠️ Technical Craft
Cinematography by Niketh Bommireddy is striking—juxtaposing Mumbai’s underbelly with corporate grandeur using gritty realism and polished visuals that authentically reflect social divides . Production design feels lived-in, grounded in reality, whether on city streets or offshore rigs Filmfare.
Devi Sri Prasad’s background score is atmospheric and restrained, steering clear of commercial beats. The songs (“Poyiraa Mama,” “Anaganaga Kadha”) are woven into the narrative, though few stand out independently .
Editing by Karthika Srinivas is the film’s weakest link. Nearly 20 minutes could be trimmed, especially early on, to tighten pacing and maintain emotional engagement .
⚖️ Themes & Impact
Kuberaa is a layered commentary on corruption, power, and the invisibility of the marginalized. It juxtaposes the dignity of beggars with the moral bankruptcy of elites, raising compelling ethical questions 123telugu.com+15The New Indian Express+15The Week+15. Dhanush’s Deva, likened to a cockroach yet possessing the memory of an elephant, symbolizes resilience amid dehumanization Wikipedia+15The New Indian Express+15Cinema Spice Entertainment+15.
Yet, the film’s ambition sometimes overwhelms its emotional depth. Critical emotional beats—such as Deva’s fight for dignity—are powerful but fleeting, overshadowed by the frantic narrative pace Cinema Spice Entertainment+10The New Indian Express+10Filmfare+10.
⭐ Final Verdict
Kuberaa is a brave, socially conscious crime drama anchored by powerhouse performances. Dhanush’s portrayal of Deva is a revelation, supported by strong work from Nagarjuna and Jim Sarbh. Visually arresting and conceptually fresh, the film is undone only by its excessive runtime and a somewhat hurried, formulaic conclusion.
For viewers inclined towards layered thrillers with societal resonance, Kuberaa is a compelling, if imperfect, watch—an ambitious film that daringly shifts Kammula’s cinematic vision.
