Movie: Kuberaa
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP, Amigos Creations Pvt Ltd
Cast: Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Rashmika Mandanna, Sunaina Yella, Hareesh Peradi, Dalip Tahil, Bagavathi Perumal and others
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
DOP: Niketh Bommi
Editor: Karthika Srinivas R
Production Design: Thota Tharani
Producers: Suniel Narang, Puskur Ram Mohan Rao
Written and directed by: Sekhar Kammula
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Kuberaa marks director Sekhar Kammula’s first pan-Indian venture and also serves as Dhanush’s second Telugu film. Unlike Kammula’s earlier projects, the film didn’t generate much pre-release buzz, primarily because the songs failed to gain traction. However, a film by Sekhar Kammula always sparks curiosity among cinephiles, thanks to his reputation for meaningful storytelling.
Let’s take a closer look.
Story:
Deepak (Nagarjuna Akkineni), a once-sincere CBI officer, becomes disillusioned with the system after being wrongly convicted in a case.
In an effort to secure a better future for his family, he accepts an offer from powerful businessman Neeraj (Jim Sarbh).
The assignment: facilitate the transfer of ₹1 lakh crore to politicians — half in cash, the other half through money laundering.
In exchange, a central minister, Siddappa (Hareesh Peradi), agrees to privatize a newly discovered oil field.
Acting on Deepak’s suggestion, Neeraj’s team recruits four beggars from across India to serve as fronts for benami accounts. One of them is Deva (Dhanush), a street beggar from Tirupati.
Deva’s entry into this high-stakes operation sets off a chain of unexpected consequences. A chance encounter with Sameera (Rashmika Mandanna), a runaway girl, further complicates matters.
The rest of the story unfolds around their evolving circumstances.
Artistes’ Performances:
Dhanush, the National Award-winning actor, delivers yet another outstanding performance. He completely immerses himself in the role of a beggar, never breaking character for a moment. His body language, innocence, and innate goodness ground the film and make his portrayal truly memorable.
Nagarjuna Akkineni, stepping out of his comfort zone, convincingly plays a middle-class officer — a transformation that suits him well.
Rashmika Mandanna adds some lighter moments, but for a star of her stature, the role feels underwritten.
Jim Sarbh is excellent as the shrewd business tycoon, delivering a performance that is both sharp and nuanced. The rest of the cast performs adequately.
Technical Excellence:
Devi Sri Prasad avoids catchy, chart-topping numbers in this film, instead focusing on enriching the narrative with a soulful background score. Of the three songs, only “Naa Koduka” blends seamlessly into the story.
The production design by veteran Thota Tharani is top-notch. The dialogues are sharp and impactful, and the cinematography effectively captures the film’s mood.
However, the editing is the weakest link — several scenes in the latter half could have been trimmed for better pacing.
Highlights:
Dhanush’s splendid acting
Nagarjuna’s sequences
Basic storyline
Devi Sri Prasad’s background score
Drawback:
The second half stretching beyond a point
Climax feels not satisfactory
Analysis
“Kuberaa” marks a clear stylistic departure for director Sekhar Kammula. Not only is it his first pan-Indian project, but it also ventures into a genre he has never explored before.
Known for his emotionally grounded romances and slice-of-life dramas, Kammula surprises with a socio-political thriller. Centered on money laundering and systemic corruption, the core plot brings a refreshing sense of novelty.
While money-laundering schemes have been covered in several web series, Kammula introduces a unique twist by using beggars as benamis, crafting a compelling narrative around this concept.
The portrayal of how corruption is legitimized through official channels, and the corporate-political nexus that facilitates it, is handled effectively.
The initial setup is gripping, and the first half holds attention well, with the interval bang highlighted by a well-executed dogfight sequence.
Post-interval, the narrative stays smooth for a while but gradually loses momentum. The screenplay turns repetitive and drifts into generic territory. Dhanush’s character arc — from a helpless beggar to a morally upright figure — has potential, but the emotional depth is lacking.
Kammula resorts to simplistic scenes — such as dumping cash in front of a businessman or handing over a pen drive to the media — that fall short of the intended dramatic impact. Even the climax feels somewhat predictable.
Running close to three hours, the film’s length is certainly felt. It features one song early on (“Naa Koduka”) and another in the second half, while the “Poyi Raa” track feels unnecessary and could have been omitted. Though Kammula grounds the story in character-driven drama, several episodes are overly stretched, contributing to a sluggish pace.
Overall, Kuberaa is another sincere effort from Sekhar Kammula. The premise is compelling, and the performances — especially by Dhanush — are solid. However, the excessive runtime and a noticeably weaker second half dilute the overall impact. That said, Kuberaa remains a commendable and ambitious watch.
Bottom-line: Philosophical and Political
