‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Review: Lavish Tollywood Sci-Fi Epic Is an Unabashedly Derivative Spectacle (2024)

With “Kalki 2898 AD,” Telugu cinema filmmaker Nag Ashwin rifles through a century of sci-fi and fantasy extravaganzas to create a wildly uneven mashup of everything from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” to Marvel Comics movies, underpinned by elements from the Hindu epic poem “Mahabharata.” It’s billed, perhaps optimistically, as the first chapter of the Kalki Cinematic Universe franchise —which makes it part of a larger trend, since it launches the same weekend that Kevin Costner’s multi-film “Horizon” saga does in the U.S.

International viewers unfamiliar with the specifics of the ancient Kurukshetra War between the Kauravas and the Pandavas — think Hatfields and McCoys, only with chariots and spears — may want to brush up on Indian mythology before approaching “Kalki 2898 AD,” if only to make some sense of repeated references to that clash. Such foreknowledge could be especially useful during the CGI-amped opening scenes that illustrate how Lord Krishna cursed the warrior Ashwatthama to an eternal life as punishment for a grave misdeed, but allowed him a shot at redemption if he someday assisted in the birth of Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu.

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On the other hand, moviegoers throughout the world should have no trouble identifying (and in many cases appreciating) Ashwin’s numerous visual and narrative allusions to “Dune,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Star Wars,” “Black Panther,” “Blade Runner,” “Mad Max,” the Harry Potter movies and a dozen or so other pieces of intellectual property. Extended and unwieldy hunks of “Kalki 2898 AD” are devoted to world-building and character-introducing in parallel plotlines that take a long time to intersect. As a result, there are too many sluggishly paced stretches where the passing of time is keenly felt and the storyline is obscured by confusion. But the aggressively spectacular (and, again, CGI-intensified) action set-pieces are generously plentiful and undeniably thrilling, and the lead players are charismatic enough, or over-the-top villainous enough, to seize and maintain interest. Will that be enough to justify two followup flicks? It’s hard to say from early box-office reports.

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After the fateful encounter on the centuries-earlier Kurukshetra War battlefield, “Kalki 2898 AD” fast-forwards a few thousand years to Kasi, a familiar looking but impressively detailed dystopian slum described variously as the first and the last viable city on Earth. High above the huddled masses, there is the Complex, a humongous inverted pyramid where, not unlike the elites in “Metropolis,” an Emperor Palpatine lookalike ruler named Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan) and other members of the in crowd savor an abundance of luxuries — including, no joke, their very own ocean — while served by manual laborers recruited from below.

Bhairava (Telugu superstar Prabhas), a roguish bounty hunter who rolls in a tricked-out faux Batmobile equipped with a robotic co-pilot, yearns to earn enough “credits” to buy his way into the Complex, where he can crash the best parties, ride horses through open fields and avoid all the debt collectors hounding him in Kasi. He seizes on the opportunity to make his dreams come true when a colossal reward is posted for the capture of SUM-80 (Deepika Padukone), an escapee from the Complex’s Project K lab, where pregnant women are routinely incinerated after being drained of fluids that can ensure Yaskin’s longevity.

While on the run through a desert wasteland, en route to the rebel enclave known as Shambala, SUM-80 is renamed Sumati by newfound allies and, more important, protected by the now-ancientAshwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan), who has evolved into an 8-foot-tall sage with superhuman strength, kinda-sorta like Obi-Wan Kenobi on steroids, and a sharp eye for any woman who might qualify as the Mother, the long-prophesized parent of — yes, you guessed it — Kalki.

Bhairava and his droid sidekick Bujji (voiced by Shambala Keerthy Suresh) follow in hot pursuit, and are in turn pursued by an army of storm troopers led by Commander Manas (Saswata Chatterjee), a cherubic-faced Yaskin factotum who always seems to be trying a shade too hard to exude intimidating, butch-level authority. Ashwatthama swats away the storm troopers and their flying vehicles like so many bothersome flies, and exerts only slightly more effort by warding off Bhairava and his high-tech weaponry. (Shoes that enable you to fly do qualify as weaponry, right?)

For his own part, Bhairava has a few magical powers of his own, though it’s never entirely clear what he can or cannot do with them. After a while, it’s tempting to simply assume that, in any given scene, the bounty hunter can do whatever the script requires him to do.

But never mind: He and Ashwatthama do their respective things excitingly well during the marathon of mortal combat that ensues when just about everybody (including Manas and his heavily armed goons) get ready to rumble in Shambala for the climactic clash.

All of which may make “Kalki 2898 AD” sound a great deal more coherent than it actually is. Truth to tell, this is a movie that can easily lead you at some point to just throw up your hands and go with the flow. Or enjoy the rollercoaster ride. And if this really is, as reported, the most expensive motion picture ever produced in India, at least it looks like every penny and more is right there up on the screen.

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Review: Lavish Tollywood Sci-Fi Epic Is an Unabashedly Derivative Spectacle (2024)

FAQs

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Review: Lavish Tollywood Sci-Fi Epic Is an Unabashedly Derivative Spectacle? ›

Extended and unwieldy hunks of “Kalki 2898 AD” are devoted to world-building and character-introducing in parallel plotlines that take a long time to intersect. As a result, there are too many sluggishly paced stretches where the passing of time is keenly felt and the storyline is obscured by confusion.

Why is there a 2898 AD in Kalki? ›

Inspired by Hindu scriptures, the post-apocalyptic film unfolds in the year 2898 AD, blending elements of the Mahabharata with science fiction.

Is Kalki 2898 AD a Bollywood movie? ›

The movie, previously titled "Project K, was released worldwide in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English.

What is the budget of Kalki 2898? ›

Reportedly India's most expensive movie with a budget of ₹600 crore, Kalki 2898 AD, premiered worldwide on June 27. Known as “Project K” before release, the movie merges elements from the Hindu epic Mahabharata with science fiction.

Who is the director of Kalki 2898 AD? ›

Director Nag Ashwin has hit the bullseye at the box office, with his mythological sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD. Ever since its release, the film has been setting new box office records.

What will be the purpose of Kalki? ›

The Kalki avatara, the final avatar of Vishnu, is described as a powerful force that will purge the world of evil. He is prophesized to defend the pious and eliminate the wicked, the mlecchas (barbarians), the heretics, the thieves, the atheists, and the impious with his sword and his eight divine powers.

What does the Kalki symbolize? ›

His story symbolizes hope and renewal, offering believers a vision of a future where virtue triumphs over vice. Kalki Avatar, as a concept, embodies the enduring human aspiration for a divine intervention that would bring an end to suffering, injustice, and moral decline.

Is Kalki 2898 AD crossed 1000 crore? ›

'Kalki 2898 AD' has crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark at the box office and the makers are calling it a 'celebration of love'. Scroll down to read more.

Is Kalki a blockbuster? ›

Its overall India net collections stand at Rs 580.15 crore. The blockbuster, which features Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Ashwatthama, recently entered the Rs 1,000-crore club in worldwide collections. Celebrating this feat, Prabha shared a video for his fans and thanked them for making the film a blockbuster.

How much did Kalki earn? ›

On Monday, Vyjayanthi Films announced that Kalki 2898 AD had crossed the Rs 900 crore (GBOC) milestone globally. This achievement makes it only the tenth Indian movie to reach this mark.

Will Kalki 2898 AD be a hit? ›

Kalki 2898 AD has been recognised as the biggest hit of 2024, outperforming Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's Fighter, which made nearly Rs 200 crore. On July 10, Kalki crossed the worldwide collection of Ranbir Kapoor's film Animal, although it is yet to surpass its domestic total.

Is Kalki 2898 AD 2 parts? ›

'Kalki 2898 AD' Director Nag Ashwin Reveals Plans for Part 2, Including an Epic Face-Off Between Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan (EXCLUSIVE)

Is Kalki hit or flop? ›

On Saturday, the film will cross the Rs 550 crore milestone and by Sunday, it should be able to overtake Animal's lifetime domestic collections of Rs 553 crore. Starring Prabhas, Kalki has proven to be a critical and commercial hit, after over half-a-decade of disappointment.

Who is the VFX company of Kalki 2898 AD? ›

The film features visual effects by the studios Prime Focus DNEG and The Embassy Visual Effects. These studios also collaborated with StealthWorks Taiwan, Folks VFX, Lola Visual Effects, Pixstone Images and Labyrinth. DNEG and The Embassy created the film's environments and action sequences.

Who is Mariam in Kalki 2898 AD? ›

“It is a microcosm of people looking for hope,” he adds, referring to characters of Rumi (Rajendra Prasad), Mariam (Shobhana), Kyra (Anna Ben), Veeran (Pasupathy) and several others.

Who is Parshuram in Kalki 2898 AD? ›

In "Kalki 2898 AD," Dulquer Salmaan's character, Captain, is theorized to be Lord Parshuram, based on his role as Prabhas's mentor and his unaging appearance. This aligns with Prabhas's character being revealed as the reincarnation of Karan. Dulquer is expected to have an extended role in the sequel.

Who are still waiting for Kalki avatar? ›

  • Ved Vyas.
  • Hanuman.
  • Vibhishan.
  • Kripacharya.
  • Parasuram.
  • Aswathama.
  • Prahalad (Padmpuran says these7)
  • Markandey (he is mentioned in some texts)
Aug 7, 2021

Will Lord Kalki really come? ›

According to some beliefs, he will appear at the end of this Kali Yuga which is about 432,000 years away.

What is the prophecy of Kalki in avatar? ›

Bhavishya Purana advocates that when Evil and Sin reach the peak,Lord Vishnu will take tenth and the last avatar known as Kalki Avatar. Kalki will wipe out all Negativities and sweep all the wickedness. This Yuga is known as Kal I Yuga and everything will be wiped out. A fresh and new Yuga will be started.

What is the secret of Kalki avatar? ›

Several aspects of Kalki's arrival remain shrouded in mystery: The Timing: The Vishnu Purana does not provide an exact timeline for Kalki's descent. Some interpretations suggest he will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, which is estimated to have begun around 3102 BCE and is believed to last for 432,000 years.

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