Kalki 2898 A.D. Movie Review

Filmmaker Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 A.D. features Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani and few others in star-cast. The film features lots of cameos including Ram Gopal Varma, SS Rajamouli, Vijay Devarakonda, Dulquer Salmaan, Rakul Preet Singh and few others.

Bhairava, portrayed by Prabhas, along with his AI droid companion BU-JZ-1, also known as Bujji and played by Keerthy Suresh, aspire to accumulate sufficient units through bounty hunting. Their ultimate goal is to escape the squalid environment of Kashi and secure a more prosperous life within the Complex. Although Bhairava may come across as self-centred initially, he possesses the capacity for affection, despite Roxie’s (portrayed by Disha Patani) doubts. Whenever thoughts of the Complex or food cross his mind, he exclusively envisions the harmonious melodies of classical music.

Supreme Yaskin, portrayed by Kamal Haasan, governs his kingdom with an unwavering authority, much like the formidable Thanos. Within this realm, fertile women are reduced to mere vessels for the enigmatic Project K, sacrificing their lives to ensure its success. SU-M80, played by Deepika Padukone, is among the many individuals who may have to make this ultimate sacrifice. On the other side of the spectrum, we have ‘Mahabharatha’ Ashwatthama, portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan, who has been burdened with a curse from Lord Krishna for centuries. His sole desire is to reclaim his lost Shivamani, a precious gem embedded on his forehead, so that he may answer the call to safeguard Kalki.

Nag Ashwin’s vision of a future world deserves appreciation, as he envisions a society where women have no interest in anatomy and babies can be conceived without natural processes. However, it is unfortunate that men are portrayed solely as characters driven by capitalistic gains. The film does offer some redeeming qualities, particularly in its imaginative world and the concept of earning points to enter the ‘Complex’ life. Nevertheless, the repetitive nature of certain scenes becomes tiresome after a while. Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal as the top showstopper is commendable, and his character arc is well-written, keeping the audience engaged. Another standout scene is when he reveals Prabhas’ true identity to the little boy. The climax, where Kamal Haasan’s character returns to his original form, is also impressive. However, it seems that the main intention of “Kalki 2898 A.D.” is to attract investors rather than a wide audience. It feels more like a portfolio or a pilot film, where producers can invest in a potential second installment. While this approach is understandable, it is evident in many scenes that the filmmakers wanted to avoid technical complexities by shooting the entire film in a dark ambiance. The musical score by Santhosh Narayanan is brilliant, and the VFX and Animation artists have done an exceptional job.

Overall, the first half lacks interesting moments, with only a few highlights in the second half. The action sequences are overly prolonged and could have been adjusted. In simpler terms, the filmmakers could have provided a clearer picture of the “Return of Kalki Avatar” instead of wasting the first half on unnecessary visual extravaganzas. However, it will be intriguing to see if they dive straight into the plot in the second installment.