Cast: Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, Dalip Tahil, Sayaji Shinde, Sunaina, Harish Paredi
Production: Sunil Narang (Sri Venkateswara Cinemas LLP), Pushkar Ram Mohan Rao (Amigas Creations)
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: Niketh Bommi Reddy
Direction: Sekhar Kammula
PRO: Sathish (AIM), Siva
Plot Summary: When fuel oil is discovered in the middle of the sea in India, it creates a situation where the country can meet its petrol and fuel needs for 15 years without depending on any other nation. Learning about this, a major private company owner bargains with the Union Minister to get this contract awarded to their company. A bribe of 40 thousand crores is discussed for this purpose. The private company owner plans with a former CBI officer (Nagarjuna) on how to transfer this 40 thousand crore bribe money to the officials. According to this plan, they decide to make some beggars as benami (proxy) holders, start companies in their names, and transfer the bribe money through them. For this purpose, they bring in several people including Deva (Dhanush), who is a beggar, and make them proxies. Once the money is transferred, they are killed one by one. Learning about this conspiracy, Deva escapes from that group. Henchmen search for him everywhere. Did Deva escape from them? What does he do with the ten thousand crores kept as binami in his name forms the climax.
The term "money laundering" - illegal money transactions - has been frequently heard recently. Daily news about Enforcement Directorate raids related to this keeps coming. The story of Kubera has been created by mixing some reality, some imagination, and some sentiment around this. "Fans don't expect this kind of film from me. Just as I act in different characters from film to film and give it to them, they accept it as it is," Dhanush said recently. In that regard, in Kubera, he has acted in a character that will pleasantly shock fans - that is, playing a beggar who begs with outstretched hands on Tirupati hill.
Through his character, Dhanush has shown what happens to a beggar when he becomes a millionaire, especially when he's made a millionaire illegally.
It's surprising that Dhanush has acted as an ordinary beggar without any hero entry song, action sequences, or romantic scenes that make you drool. The film's different approach is that from beginning to climax, Dhanush has lived as a realistic person without cinematically transforming the beggar character into a rich character in any way.
When called with "We're giving you work, come," Dhanush and others who come along don't realize they're getting trapped in a dangerous circle and innocently sign papers and wear suits - this innocence is portrayed very skillfully.
When Dhanush realizes he's caught in trouble, his escape from the conspirators and how he accidentally involves Rashmika Mandanna, getting her also trapped with the rowdy gang and increasing the complications, makes the scenes exciting.
After making fans yearn for song sequences and fight scenes for Dhanush, director Sekhar Kammula satisfies Dhanush fans by giving the "Poy Va Nanba" song near the climax and some action sequences as surprises.
The director's confidence is evident in showing Rashmika Mandanna not as a glamorous heroine but as an ordinary woman.
"I'll die my death, you die yours," Rashmika frequently speaks in frustration, expressing her pitiful state.
Nagarjuna, playing the CBI officer who raises eyebrows, delivers heavy acting while caught in a moral dilemma about sacrificing the lives of those who trusted him.
Director Sekhar Kammula has exposed how money sharks create their proxies and how they conduct illegal money transactions by creating fake companies. The second half seems to stretch the story unnecessarily. Trimming 10 minutes would increase the pace.
Devi Sri Prasad's music gives way to the scenes. He leaves his mark with the "Poy Va Nanba" song.
Sunil Narang (Sri Venkateswara Cinemas LLP) and Pushkar Ram Mohan Rao (Amigas Creations) have produced the film.
Niketh Bommi Reddy's camera shows us around Tirupati and Mumbai cities.
Final Verdict: Kubera - The film indirectly speaks of communism, saying that not only the millionaire, but even the beggar has equal right to live in this world.
