Kuberaa

When I finished watching Kuberaa, my head was still spinning — and not just because of its three-hour-plus runtime. Sekhar Kammula’s new film isn’t exactly easy to digest, but it’s not trying to be. It seems like it wants us to feel uncomfortable on purpose. It wants us to think. And more than anything, it wants us to recognize how the power game — money, corruption, inequality — is present everywhere, from the narrow alleys of Dharavi to the glass-walled towers of big cities.

Sekhar Kammula, whom many know for his romantic dramas, takes a sharp turn here. Kuberaa is a social thriller with the scale of a pan-Indian blockbuster, spoken in multiple languages and packed with a powerhouse cast. Dhanush plays Deepak (or Deva, depending on the moment), a man who climbs his way from the bottom of society to the top — but not without losing parts of himself along the way. His performance is intense, filled with a mix of restrained rage and silences that speak louder than any monologue. And yet, surprisingly, the script sometimes doesn’t let him shine as much as it could. There’s so much going on, so many characters involved, that the focus scatters.

Nagarjuna, on the other hand, plays a morally conflicted investigator. He’s almost a tragic figure, someone trying to hold on to ethics in a world that clearly couldn’t care less. And here’s one of the film’s biggest strengths: Nagarjuna delivers one of the most compelling roles of his recent career. It’s a joy to watch.

Rashmika Mandanna plays Sameera, and even with less screen time than she deserves, she makes her presence felt. She delivers exactly what the film asks of her: presence. And here, presence is far more than just lines. Then there’s Jim Sarbh, playing the elegant villain type, offering a cold, calculating counterweight to the emotional chaos — and he stands out. But he’s barely there. He needed more screen time to truly land as a major threat.

Kammula’s direction juggles a lot: social critique, ambition, corruption, even a hint of mysticism. Some of these themes mesh well — especially with Devi Sri Prasad’s soundtrack and the striking urban cinematography — but others feel overextended. In certain parts, the film starts circling the same points again and again. There are moments that really work, but others could’ve used a firmer edit.

One scene that stuck with me comes near the end. Deepak and Nagarjuna’s character are standing by a polluted river, separated by a harsh beam of light slicing the screen in two. They stare at each other in silence. And in that moment, the film says everything it’s been trying to express: the contrast between the man who surrendered to power and the one who tried to resist. It’s a quiet scene, but loaded with meaning. These are the moments when Kuberaa hits hard.

Overall, it’s an ambitious film, trying to tackle as much as possible — and sometimes getting tangled in that ambition. But it’s also bold, complex, and rich in ideas. It might not please viewers looking for clear-cut answers, but it will definitely linger with those open to being affected. Because in the end, Kuberaa is less about what we understand and more about what we feel. And in that sense, it succeeds powerfully.



Kuberaa (Kuberaa, 2025 / India)
Director: Sekhar Kammula
Writer: Sekhar Kammula
Starring: Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh
Runtime: 195 min.