No, Pushpa is not based on a true story or a biography of any specific person. Pushpa is an Indian Telugu-language action drama film series, comprising of the 2021 release Pushpa: The Rise and the 2024 release Pushpa 2: The Rule. The series has been created by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Muttamsetty Media and Sukumar Writings. Pushpa features Allu Arjun in the title role, with an ensemble of supporting cast.
Pushpa draws inspiration from real-world elements like red sandalwood smuggling in South India and real characters in this criminal business. However, the core plot is a work of fiction, invented purely for cinematic purposes.
Plot Summary of Pushpa: The Rise
Set in the 1990s in the Seshachalam Hills of Andhra Pradesh, the story follows Pushpa Raj, a hardworking but hot headed daily wage labourer. He is born out of wedlock and faces humiliation. Driven by a desire for power and respect, Pushpa joins a red sandalwood smuggling syndicate led by the Reddy Brothers.
Pushpa quickly rises in the ranks and becomes a trusted partner of the Reddy Brothers. He soon takes control of the syndicate after a major confrontation. The film ends on a high tension note, with Pushpa facing-off against the new SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat.
Plot Summary of Pushpa 2: The Rule
Continuing directly from the first part, Pushpa is now the undisputed leader of the red sandalwood smuggling syndicate. He influences politics by managing to install his close aide Siddappa Naidu as the chief minister of the state.
Meanwhile, SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat teams up with Pushpa’s old rivals like Mangalam Srinu and Dakshayani to sabotage Pushpa’s operations. This leads to intense action sequences and epic confrontations. The movie ends with Pushpa emerging victorious and consolidating his rule. However, he faces new threats.
Key Real-Life Inspirations
The film’s backdrop is rooted in actual illegal smuggling operations in the Seshachalam Hills of Andhra Pradesh. It is a long-standing issue involving the international smuggling of high-value red timber from the region. The setting and atmosphere of the movie draw from real clashes between the smugglers and the authorities.
In an interview, the film’s creator Sukumar revealed that during his research, he met a real smuggler named Pushpa Raj, which inspired the protagonist’s name due to its uniqueness. Speculations have also been made about loose parallels with the notorious sandalwood smuggler, Verrappan.