Kalki 2898 AD Movie Review- Telugu (2024)

Movie: Kalki 2898 AD

Director: Nag Ashwin

Production: Vyjayanthi Movies

Cast: Prabhas, Amitab Bachchan, Kamal Hassan, Shobhana, Disha Pathani & Others

Music & Score: Santhosh Narayan

Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao

Cinematography: Djordje Stojilikovic

Language: Telugu

Release Date: 27/06/2024

2/5

Atypical Fantasy That Drew Inspiration From Half-Cooked Indian Epics

01. All about Kalki 2898 AD.

Nag Ashwin brings in a very strange fantasy of a fusion between references from Indian epics & cinematic universe concepts. This is not a new feature in Hollywood films but giving it a dash of epic references makes it an Indian film. This Prabhas starring Kalki has got more then life concepts  in terms of CG & VFX which is an eye treat. 

The film starts with a great scene in Mahabharatham where Ashwatthama is being cursed by the lord Sri Krishna (however which is not the exact happening in the original epic written by Vyaasa bhagawan as shown in this film), later we are introduced to various characters & a different world (called complex) ruled by Supreme (Kamal Hassan) where all elements like food, air & water are in abundance. All the universes shown here (whether about Complex or Kaashi or Shambhala) are out from Nag's imagination & they all are fruits of his fantasies. Nag takes us to his imaginary worlds & universes in 2898 AD where he believes humans might be like that & there is no water or food available & everyone's dream is to reach complex with 1 million units (that's how currency is monetized in that world). Then after such hiccups we are introduced to Bhairava (Prabhas) who's goal is the same- to reach complex one or other day. This is what we all saw in trailers & teasers- then in the film we are more concerned with Sum80 or Sumathi (Deepika Padukone) who happens to be the mother of Lord Kalki & there is a whole new procedure & universe where pregnant women are experimented/treated inside a laboratory in complex. Then after some dwelling into Sum80, we are introduced to the legend Ashwatthama (Amitab Bachchan) who is immortal from Dwapara Yuga till now to protect Sum80. And the story goes on until Ashwatthama realises that Bhairava is not an ordinary person & rightly ending at a juncture where Supreme gets much power from the Arjuna Gandheevam bow(I really dunno why is it even relevant to Kali?!)

02. Performances & cameos. 

We have many characters & cameos coming here & there through out the film which gives us a vibe of Avengers: End game. But the question is how far these cameos or performances really helped the film. Amitab Bachchan as Ashwatthama is really the superlative. At the age of 81, the veteran performing like this is really feast to Indian cinema lovers, like already said somewhere in the film he aptly fits to the title- 'Angry Old Man'. Kuddos to the team & Bachchan sir for this role, let's talk later about his characterization & truthiness from the epic references. Prabhas as Bhairava (& also in a surprise role) is amazing & also he perfomed really well but the problem is with his character itself which appears less heroistic or more or less matches a comical role, however amuses in the surprise role which has to be witnessed in movie itself. 

Others like Kamal Hassan, Shobhana, Deepika Padukone, Saswatha Chaterjee get a meaty role & they are perfect too. Disha Pathani is wasted & confined to a glamorous song role. Cameo from Vijay Devarakonda as Arjuna/Partha in Mahabharatham scenes are just brilliant- he gives a spine chill with his aura around the character (don't believe the trolls- he's just amazing). Other cameos from S. S. Rajamouli, Ram Gopal Varma, Anudeep are just for entertaining purpose & have no value. 2-3 minutes cameo from the heartthrob Dulquer Salmaan is also wasted, he acts as pilot/trainer to the young Bhairava but is of no importance (valid fact- if it was Parasurama- how is he reborn? Parasurama is an immortal like Ashwatthama or Kripachaarya right? Secondly, Prabhas isn't Kalki so I don't think Dulquer is Parasurama- if that's the case- then he's really wasted here- least probability to expect his role in second part).

03. Plus points or what impresses in Kalki 2898 AD?

Kalki- Nag Ashwin's imaginary cinematic universe leaves us in a complete different experience where we are exposed to different worlds with amazing CG & VFX works. This is for the first time TFI is producing such a film which is no less to any Marvel or DC films. 

Amitab Bachchan as Ashwatthama is just the hero- he mesmerizes the audience with his presence. Same with Vijay Devarakonda's character. Deepika in interval just shakes the screen with her presence.

We must give a pat to Ashwin's imagination- we all know about Kalki purana & it's proceedings that's gonna take place towards the end of Kali yuga- but we can just think over- but here Nag has given a cinematic form to his & our imaginations. Still we are yet to see the 10th avataar of the lord Vishnu & still we are awaiting to witness his presence in second part here too.

Bringing in the references from Mahabharatam & able to reproduce them in a subtle manner is also commandable. The beginning, pre-interval & climax portions elevate the film from a disaster to a below average to an average film.

04. Flaws & truthiness to the epics Mahabharatam, Srimad Bhaagawatham & Kalki Puraanam.

Flaws within the movie- Editing- yes, it's a biggest flaw- there is much irrelevance from scene to scene. Screenplay is a big backdrop, it is very slow to medium paced at most of the places, apart from 30-35 minutes in film every other thing is simply exaggerated or lagged unnecessarily.  The imagination has become way too much & every world or universe in movie say- Complex & Shambala needs audience' full concentration to get in to the skin of the movie. The fantasy is repetitive & offers nothing new, either there is a fight to get into complex or to save Sumathi's unborn (the lord Kalki). Direction also falls flat at places, there is a sequence where Prabhas gets into complex & explores- which can be chopped off or atleast edited to minimal time.

Flaws from drawing in inspiration from epics or truthiness exposed- The first scene itself is wrongly portrayed- Ashwathhama after Kurukshetram  18th day- successfully carries out vendetta on Pandava soldiers, Upa Pandavas & the next day gets into Vyaasa Maharshi's ashram where Bhima & Ashwatthama get into a duel & then he uses 'Bhramasheerastra' for Pandava's ruin & counter attacked by Arjuna on command from Madhava. But this film shows it in Kurukshetram itself. Madhava curses Ashwatthama without getting into a duel with him. Whole episode of Krishna elevating Karna in climax is wrong & intentional by film's unit to elevate Karna- which has no relevance with the original Vyaasa Bharatham. Ashwatthama is cursed to be immortal until Kali Yuga end, but 3000 years in starting of Kali Yuga he's cursed to suffer with body full of injuries & pus oozing from wounds & his Shiva gifted jewel (Shiva mani) is taken by Arjuna after the vendetta itself in Pandava encampments that night on 18th day Kurukshetram- so the film is not showing correct things with reference to Ashwatthama. Fight between Ashwatthama & Bhairava is too repetitive & I don't understand why it should happen so many times when nothing as such is mentioned in any of epics. I don't understand how can Karna be reborn if he's gained moksha in Mahabhaaratam after the war, neither will Duryodhana or any of the Pandavas too- all attained moksha. Kali character by Kamal Hassan is also fictional, doesn't match with Srimad Bhagavatam & Kali Puranam which have references of Parikshith, Janamajeya, Sarpa Yagna, Kali Purush entry etc. 

05. Final Verdict.

I don't want to take this film seriously in terms of epics concerned as there are many deviations & the film is drawn from half-cooked epic stories but not the originally written epics by Vyaasa maharshi or atleast from Andhra Mahabhaartam or Mahabhagavatam by Bammera Pothana Gaaru which is also considered as top standard equivalent to Vyaasa maharshi's writings in Sanskrit. 

If not talking about epics & epic references in the film, this is purely a fantasy oriented film & a product of Nag's imagination. If you are all interested to see how he has imagined & cooked up a completely new level fictional story on Kalki bhagawaan & Kali yuga- you can all experience the magic with limitations to the slow paced screenplay. So, overall it is a below average film with many effects & VFX/CG. It is a different experiment sci-fi/mythological film from TFI. It is a life time role for Prabhas & his fans, probably to Amitab sir's fans too. Watch the film for a new level experience & many cameo suspenses.