Kalki 2898 AD Review: Visual Brilliance
Since the debut of its initial teaser, “Kalki 2898 AD” has attracted a lot of interest. The movie, according to the whole Indian film industry, could break box office records. The film’s subject, director Nag Ashwin’s vision, and Prabhas’s notoriety all contribute to the enthusiasm.
We’ll see if “Kalki 2898 AD” meets up to the expectations and turns into a historic movie for the Telugu cinema industry.
Story: The story starts during the time of the Mahabharata, with the Kurukshetra conflict. Lord Krishna gave Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) the curse of immortality. He will therefore have to carry out his penance by protecting the child when God reincarnates as Kalki, which is expected to happen in 6000 years.
In the year 6000 AD, people in Kashi live in misery and want to escape to Complex, a utopian society ruled by Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), the highest authority in the universe.
Yaskin is now conducting Project K, which focusses on obtaining serum from expectant mothers who are past 150 days together with their baby. Sumati (Deepika Padukone), one of the project’s pregnant participants, escapes the institution and makes her way to Kaasi.
Ashwatthama is certain that Sumati is carrying the god he has been longing to see. Prabhas, who plays the bounty hunter Bhairava, promises to bring Sumati back to the complex in exchange for a 5 million unit prize.
The remaining of the novel is around the discovery of the intricate scheme that spans all of these characters and three distinct realms including Shambala.
Artists’ Performances: Four characters play a major role in the film, although it has a big ensemble cast. Playing Bhairava, a character who mixes super hero qualities with a playful attitude, seemed to have been enjoyable for Prabhas.
During the first part of the movie, Prabhas’s role is not very prominent, but towards the end, it becomes more significant. In the end, the climax episode reveals who his real role is. Prabhas’s role departs from the traditional model of the hero.
In terms of duration, Amitabh Bachchan’s role is about the same as that of the main character Prabhas. He plays the elderly man who is waiting for Kalki to be born as well as Ashwatthama’s young appearance. Amitabh Bachchan looks nimble for his age, and his intense performance is the standout feature. A treat is the protracted combat sequence with Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas.
In her role as a pregnant woman, Deepika Padukone is convincing.
In comparison to the other actors in the story, Kamal Haasan, who plays Yaskin, appears much more briefly. Despite this, he is incredibly powerful and leaves a lasting impression. The legendary actor’s enormous acting prowess is evident in both his costume and performance style.
Patani Disha is a waste. Sobhana, a seasoned performer, gives the proceedings gravitas.
As Arjuna, Vijay Deverakonda gives a fantastic cameo performance. Mrunal Thakur, Rajamouli, RGV, Dulquer Salmaan, and more actors have made passable cameo cameos.
Other performers that are good in their roles are Rajendra Prasad, Pasupathy, Brahmanandam, Saswata Chatterjee, and Anna Ben.
The voice of Keerthy Suresh for the Bujji character is really beneficial.
Technical Mastery:
The images are excellent, especially the stunning effects and cinematography. The movie offers a captivating visual experience.
The film boasts a superb production design in addition to its remarkable visual effects and photography. We have nothing but appreciation for the futuristic vehicles, settings, and other things. In order to achieve outstanding results, the producers have also made significant financial investments.
Santosh Narayanan’s compositions are of very low quality, and the backing soundtrack is also lacking. Conversations are OK.
“Kalki 2898 AD” is definitely a new film in Telugu and Indian cinema in terms of concept and genre. The intention is to present stories about Indian legends in a Hollywood superhero movie style, a la Marvel Studios and other superhero books that currently rule the global box office. In this way, filmmaker Nag Ashwin skilfully conveys the central idea.
According to the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama was cursed by Krishna to live forever; the curse is only lifted with the birth of Kalki. Nag Ashwin uses this story to create a sci-fi action movie’s premise. He uses superhero movie themes that we’ve seen in a lot of Hollywood blockbusters to make it relevant to today’s consumers.
Some recurring themes in Marvel, Mad Max, and Star Wars films include a dystopian setting, a villain carrying out a rogue project, a lead actor who initially seems self-centred but is ultimately kind-hearted, a heroine rescuing others, multiple superhero characters, futuristic vehicles, and unusual firearms.
While “Kalki 2898 AD” has all of these components, Nag Ashwin gives it an Indian spin that makes everything relate to our legendary characters and gives the action greater plausibility.
The problem is that, although “Kalki 2898 AD” provides an original experience for the Telugu/Indian audience, it could feel familiar to people who have seen a lot of Hollywood blockbusters. Moreover, a few situations remind me of “Brahmastra” by Ayan Mukherjee.
The initial section of the movie is not very interesting to watch as it mostly focusses on setting up the characters and the primary theme. The second half is when the main action takes place. The latter thirty-five minutes of the film offer an exciting experience with disclosures about Prabhas’ character and the decisive battle, even though the first parts of the second half could feel unsatisfactory. These sequences establish the tone for the sequel while showcasing Prabhas’ genuine heroism. By the end, all of the plot points make sense.
Nag Ashwin may not have pleased Prabhas’s fans by not giving him enough screen time because he lacked experience with such ambitious hero films. Prabhas makes up for it, though, with a fun performance and a commanding screen presence. Amitabh Bachchan is the real highlight; he is excellent in the part.
Certain characters get too much screen time, while others who are important get too little. Both Raya’s and Disha Patani’s characters are underdeveloped and poorly written.
All things considered, “Kalki 2898 AD,” when approached with an open mind, gives ample amusement and something special inside its limitations. You might not get the usual hero-centric movie you were hoping for.
All the same, the movie is a first for Telugu cinema, as this kind of science fiction myth drama has never been produced before. The target audience is mainly metropolitan, thus viewers in smaller places might not find it relatable. The director, Nag Ashwin, exhibits both brilliant and ineffectual moments.
Movie: Kalki 2898 AD
ibomma Rating: 3/5
Cast: Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, Shobana, Malavika Nair, Saswata Chatterjee, Anna Ben, Brahmanandam, Rajendra Prasad, Pasupathy, Vijay Deverakonda, Dulquer Salmaan, and others
Additional Dialogues: Sai Madhav Burra
Music: Santhosh Narayanan
DOP: Djordje Stojiljkovic
Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Production Designer: Nitin Zihani Choudhary
Action stunts: King Solomon, Andy Long, Peter Heins, Satish, Anbariv, Nick Powell
Co-Producers: Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutt
Producer: Ashwin Dutt
Story – Screenplay – Dialogues – Direction: Nag Ashwin
Release Date: June 27, 2024
