Kuberaa is a 2025 Indian crime thriller directed by Sekhar Kammula, co-written with Chaithanya Pingali. The film dives deep into human greed, the lust for power, and the moral struggles that come with ambition. Shot in both Telugu and Tamil, Kuberaa brings together an impressive cast led by Dhanush, with Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil in important roles. While the film sets out to deliver a powerful message about the real cost of wealth and corruption, its execution doesn’t fully match its ambition.
At its core, Kuberaa tells the story of a beggar who rises through a world driven by money and manipulation. The film explores his transformation, but it doesn’t always stick to one tone, often feeling emotionally distant and narratively scattered. Despite the strong intentions and performances, Kuberaa struggles to maintain balance and coherence across its 3-hour runtime.
The movie follows Deva, a beggar who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of politics, corruption, and business. His life takes a dramatic turn as he uses his sharp memory and determination to climb up from the streets into a world of crime and power. Along the way, he crosses paths with Deepak Tej, a former CBI officer; Sameera, a journalist; and Neeraj Mitra, a powerful CEO with dark secrets.
Deva’s journey is not a heroic one in the traditional sense. It’s a grim, slow-burning transformation that questions morality at every turn. The film attempts to show how even the lowest in society can dream big—but also how ambition, if not guided by values, can turn dangerous. The plot tries to explore redemption, betrayal, and justice, but at times it loses focus and drifts into confusing transitions and unexplained twists.
- Dhanush as Deva: A beggar whose life changes drastically
- Nagarjuna as Deepak Tej: A former CBI officer with his own agenda
- Rashmika Mandanna as Sameera: Helps Dhanush since he is a beggar and falls into trouble, but she keeps supporting him throughout the movie
- Jim Sarbh as Neeraj Mitra: CEO and antagonist, who hates beggar
Dhanush’s performance is the film’s strongest point. He brings emotional depth, physical commitment, and silent intensity to his role. His character doesn’t speak loudly but expresses plenty through his eyes and actions. One interesting detail is how Dhanush performs with limited use of his right arm for most of the film, adding to the realism of the character.
Nagarjuna Akkineni
The movie follows Deva, a beggar who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of politics, corruption, and business. His life takes a dramatic turn as he uses his sharp memory and determination to climb up from the streets into a world of crime and power.
Dhanush
Dhanush’s performance is the film’s strongest point. He brings emotional depth, physical commitment, and silent intensity to his role. His character doesn’t speak loudly but expresses plenty through his eyes and actions.
Nagarjuna returns in a unique role, and while his presence is strong, the character arc feels underdeveloped. His role had the potential to be more powerful but lacks the punch expected from a star of his stature. Rashmika Mandanna adds some much-needed charm and lightness. Her role isn’t large, but it leaves a good impression. Jim Sarbh plays his part convincingly, but his villain lacks depth and originality.
The film has its strengths. First, the concept and core message are bold and meaningful. Kuberaa is not just another thriller, it tries to tell a story about values, the power of choice, and the price of greed. In a time when many films chase mindless entertainment, Kuberaa offers a different, more thoughtful experience.
Dhanush stands out in every frame. His transformation into Deva is believable and emotional. The physical and emotional limitations of his character are portrayed with dedication. Rashmika’s moments bring some light-heartedness, and her chemistry with Dhanush works well in the brief scenes they share.
The soundtrack by Devi Sri Prasad fits the tone of the film, especially in emotional sequences. A few scenes, particularly in the first half, are well-written and keep the viewer interested. Visually, the film has a gritty style that matches the mood of the story.
However, Kuberaa falls short in several areas. The most noticeable issue is the lack of smooth storytelling. The transitions between scenes often feel abrupt or disjointed, which makes the film hard to follow at times. Some scenes are too stretched while others feel rushed, breaking the overall rhythm.
One of the major drawbacks is the uneven pacing. The beginning builds tension well, but by the second half, the film starts to lose its grip. The climax, instead of delivering a powerful punch, feels rushed and incomplete. Too many threads are left hanging, and viewers are left with more questions than answers.
Nagarjuna’s character, though interesting on paper, is not fully explored. His partnership with the villain is introduced but not explained well. Jim Sarbh’s villain role also lacks the complexity and motivation needed to make him memorable.
Rashmika Mandanna
Rashmika Mandanna adds some much-needed charm and lightness. Her role isn’t large, but it leaves a good impression.
Another issue is the mood of the film. There’s a constant sense of tension and negativity, which can feel exhausting. Except for a few scenes involving Rashmika and some attempts at humour by Dhanush, the film rarely allows the audience to breathe or connect emotionally with the characters.
While the moral of the story, money isn’t everything, and character matters more, is meaningful, the delivery feels heavy-handed. The message gets lost in the chaos of too many subplots and forced drama.
Kuberaa is a film with strong potential, a powerful cast, and a meaningful theme. However, the final product feels unfinished and uneven. Dhanush’s excellent performance and a few bright moments are not enough to save the film from its storytelling flaws and inconsistent execution.
If you’re a fan of crime dramas and are willing to overlook some narrative issues, Kuberaa might be worth a watch. But for most viewers, it may come across as a film that aimed high but didn’t fully reach its goal. Watch it for the performances, especially Dhanush, but lower your expectations for the overall story.
