Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran, who impressed Telugu audiences with Salaar and is currently working in SSMB29, is known for being very selective when it comes to other language films. Unless his role has strong importance, he usually avoids signing outside projects.
His latest film Vilaayath Budha is now ready for release. The teaser has been launched in Telugu along with other pan India languages, and from the very first frame to the last shot, the film reminds many of Pushpa.
Adding to this surprise, there is even a scene where a police officer taunts the hero, asking, “Do you think you are Pushpa?” To this, Prithviraj replies, “He is International, I am local.” Such moments have made fans wonder why Prithviraj chose a film that looks so similar to Pushpa.
To understand this, we have to go back to 2020 when Malayalam writer GR Indugopan released a novel called Vilaayath Budha. The book became a huge success, selling in large numbers. The story is about a school teacher who secretly grows a rare and valuable sandalwood tree in his courtyard. A smuggler sets his eyes on the tree and wants to cut it down to make millions. The twist is that the smuggler happens to be the teacher’s former student. Their conflict soon spreads to the entire village and eventually connects to the mafia.
In 2021, Pushpa The Rise released. While both projects deal with red sandalwood smuggling, the actual stories are completely different. Because of this, there was never any controversy. The only similarity lies in the hero’s rugged look and the forest smuggling backdrop. This is why Prithviraj confidently chose Vilaayath Budha, believing that the story would stand strong on its own.
Even though the teaser brought comparisons, Prithviraj feels that audiences will be thrilled once they watch the full film. The makers bought the rights to the novel and adapted it into a feature film. Directed by Jayan Nambiar, this forest based thriller has music by Jakes Bejoy and promises an intense cinematic experience.
The official release date has not been fixed yet, but there is a strong chance that Vilaayath Budha will arrive during the Diwali season. With a gripping story and Prithviraj’s powerful presence, the film is expected to grab wide attention across languages, similarities to Pushpa aside.
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