Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan have finally come up with the much-awaited dystopian science-fiction film Kalki 2898 AD. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the story of the film originates from the stories and myths of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and the prophecy of the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
With a stellar ensemble cast of Disha Patani, Rajendra Prasad, Shobhana, Anna Ben, Saswata Chatterjee, Brahmanandam and many more, the film boasts of a great story. With cameo appearances from Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Deverakonda already confirmed by the makers, here is Pinkvilla’s review for the film Kalki 2898 AD.
Plot:
Kalki’s story begins with the end of the Mahabharata’s Kurukshetra War in 2898 BC, which marks the beginning of Kali Yuga in 3102 BC. After the events of the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama is tasked by Lord Krishna to protect his final incarnation when the time is right.
6000 years later, in 2898 A.D., the world has become terrifying for most people who live in fear of a proclaimed deity known as Supreme Yaskin. While most people attempt to please him and find a humble abode in his resourceful land called the Complex, others rebel against him and his atrocities.
As all hope seems lost for the people, a new light appears in the form of an unborn baby in the womb of SUM-80 aka Sumati. As Yaskin and his followers set out to extract the source of life from the baby, an epic tale begins that determines the rest of the film.
Good:
Kalki 2898 A.D. is truly an epic tale meant for every movie lover who loves to watch mythology and science fiction action thrillers. Helmed by Prabhas, the film features him as Bhairava, a bounty hunter whose only dream is to reach the complex and live a luxurious life. As always, the Rebel star embodied a charming and magnetic screen presence that makes us applaud and cheer for him as soon as he appears on screen.
However, the most talked about part of the film was Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama. The actor once again proved why he is one of the biggest superstars of Indian cinema with his action sequences and his demeanour, who can go to any extent to fulfill his duty. The combination of scenes between Big B and Prabhas gives rise to some of the best fight sequences in Indian cinema.
Apart from these two stars, the film also has Kamal Haasan as Supreme Yaskin and Deepika as Sumathi who were devilish in their roles. Especially mentioning Haasan, the actor has only a few minutes of screen time, that too in just a few scenes, but in those few moments, we can feel his strong presence which makes us curious to know what he has planned next.
Disha Patani also appears as Bhairav’s girlfriend, bringing a fresh chemistry to the screen, even if the subplot is a bit haphazard. Also, several characters are played by some interesting celebrities who have made cameos in the film, which is definitely going to be a treat for many.
Talking about other aspects of the film, Kalki 2898 AD is backed by a brilliant screenplay which goes hand in hand with visually stunning camera work. The shots taken by Djordje Stojiljikovic take us to a new world without any doubt.
Directed by Nag Ashwin, his highly creative and imaginative story has delivered a film that gives you goosebumps on watching. The way the director has weaved stories and characters into such a vast world is commendable. Apart from the director’s efforts, Santhosh Narayanan’s music expertise has once again added the necessary elements to make this dystopian world worth watching, leaving us filled with excitement.
Lastly, the production design done by Nitin Jihani Chowdhary and editing done by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao are undoubtedly a key factor in making this epic tale reach the masses.
bad:
Kalki 2898 AD is an epic film that is reminiscent of the best Hollywood films like Star Wars and Dune. However, the film had some shortcomings in the first half, making it a bit dull and struggling to move forward naturally.
Prabhas’ introductory scenes had some comical cues which made it a bit off topic and seemed like pure fan service. The heroic element of the character is presented in a really dynamic way in the second half which was far better than the latter part.
Apart from being inorganic comic relief, the subplot involving Anna Ben’s character Kaira fails to provide the huge emotional connect it was made out to be. Also, even though the film deals with global events that bring together many characters from different origins, they all seem to speak the same language but still can’t get rid of their accents.
Display:
Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone are leading this epic show on their shoulders and giving an unprecedented experience to movie lovers in India. The potential of the world created by Nag Ashwin was only given a glimpse through this film and the characters have already shown their true selves, leaving us wanting more from the world.
Apart from the brilliant performances of the lead characters and Kamal Haasan, the film also has Rajendra Prasad, Shobana, Saswata Chatterjee and many other actors who made their presence felt within minutes. Also, Brahmanandam’s comedy timing brought some laughs and Keerthy Suresh lent her voice to the AI droid Vahan Bujji who had a unique personality.
Decision:
The film Kalki 2898 AD is the beginning of a cinematic universe that has the potential to become the greatest experience of Indian cinema. With each character serving their own purposes, the film successfully combines the worlds of science-fiction and myth under one umbrella.
If you are a lover of movies with grand scale, epic narration, amazing visuals, phenomenal performances and incredible storyline, then definitely watch this movie in theatres near you.