Samantha undoubtedly set the internet on fire in 2021 when Pushpa: The Rise's controversial track, 'Oo Antava', was released to the public. Promoted with similar energy to 'Oo Antava', the much-anticipated song 'Kissik' from Pushpa 2: The Rule 'Kissik' aimed to recreate that unforgettable vibe—complete with a dusky, atmospheric set and Allu Arjun’s signature dance moves. Sreeleela, joining Arjun on screen, brought her own chemistry to the track. However, it seems like the magic from the first film didn’t quite transfer.

Despite the efforts from the makers and actors to hype it up, fans are far from impressed, and their disappointment is loud and clear.

Released as a preview on Sunday and the full lyrical video dropping on Monday, the song quickly grabbed attention, especially when Allu Arjun shared a reel of the Hindi version with the catchy chorus “thappad marungi…” Despite the build-up, the magic that 'Oo Antava' brought to the table seems to be missing in 'Kissik'. 

Allu Arjun, dressed in an orange shirt and pants, shares the spotlight with Sreeleela, who sports a black blouse paired with a dhoti skirt. Fans were quick to react, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu (who starred in Oo Antava) giving the reel a like. But despite some celebrity support, the feedback from fans hasn’t been as glowing.

Social media is full of disappointed reactions. One fan even said, “Not even close to 'Oo Antava'."

"The recent Telugu songs on YouTube are more catchy than this,” one wrote.

Others are comparing Sreeleela to Samantha, and the general consensus is that the latter reigns supreme. 

There are also fans who are questioning the hype.

One comment read, “Why all the hype? It’s the worst I’ve ever heard. My expectations are dropping.”

“A slap would've been better than this," another top-liked comment simply said.

Despite the criticism, 'Kissik' is doing well in numbers. The Telugu version of the song, sung by Sublahshini and composed by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP), has already hit over 26 million views in less than 24 hours.

The choreography by Ganesh Acharya, who also worked on 'Oo Antava', is getting mixed reactions, with some fans praising the moves, but others not feeling it as much.

Pushpa 2 will be released on Decmeber 5.