A Class War with Heart and Hiccups
In Kubera, Shekar Kammula steps into a more politically charged narrative than his usual social entertainers, crafting a story that tackles the divide between the haves and have-nots with bold ambition. This is a story about exploitation, capitalism, and morality, where power games orchestrated by the elite trickle down to impact the lives of society’s most invisible: beggars.
Jim Sarbh’s Neeraj, an industrialist with a dangerous scheme, sets the chain in motion. Enter Nagarjuna’s Deepak, an ex-CBI officer tasked with enlisting beggars for a shady financial operation. The emotional anchor is Dhanush’s Deva, a man from the streets whose transformation turns the tables and questions the very structure of the operation.
Dhanush delivers a searing performance—grounded, nuanced, and fully immersed—without lapsing into stereotype. Nagarjuna’s understated portrayal of moral conflict balances Dhanush’s arc with gravitas and subtlety. Their chemistry keeps the film afloat even when the script meanders.
Devi Sri Prasad’s score toggles effectively between intensity and intimacy, while Niketh Bommireddy’s cinematography captures urban contrasts with visual honesty.
However, Kubera is weighed down by its own ambition. The screenplay juggles too many threads—scam, social message, individual arcs—and ends up diluting the impact. Kammula’s signature observational finesse gets lost in overt moralising and scattered focus, especially in the second half.
Still, Kubera stands out in a sea of commercial cinema for daring to centre its narrative on the underrepresented and for trying to question systemic inequalities. It’s not flawless, but it’s brave—and that makes it a conversation-starter.
Verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.5/5)
A thought-provoking yet imperfect film that raises pertinent questions about class, money, and morality—buoyed by powerful performances from Dhanush and Nagarjuna.
