Robin Bhuyan
“Kalki 2898 AD,” is one of the most awaited sci-fi movies in India and is a movie that everyone has been waiting for. With Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles, the film includes a cast of other well-known actors such as Kamal Hassan, Deepika Padukone and Saswata Chatterjee. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film is based on characters from the Mahabharata and is kind of a sequel.
While it is to be appreciated that the makers tried to make a movie based on Indian mythology, which is something we rarely see, you hardly see much “Indianness” in the film, and it seems like a rip-off of various Hollywood movies. The film’s stunning visuals and cutting-edge special effects can definitely be considered something new in India cinema. However, the film’s biggest weakness is its screenplay and poorly developed characters.
Story, Direction and and Character Development
The primary downfall of “Kalki 2898 AD” is its lacklustre story and shallow character development. Despite the grandeur of the setting and a storyline inspired by Hindu mythology, the film’s first half was extremely irritating and cringeworthy. It fails to engage you in any way, and you might ask yourself – What the hell am I even watching?
First Half: A Tedious Affair
The first half of the film is tiring, plagued by a slow pace and cringeworthy dialogues that do little to engage the viewer. The scenes drag on, and what should have been a buildup to an epic tale instead becomes an extremely tedious watch. The attempts at humor fall flat, and it seemed forced.
Performances
One of the more puzzling choices in Kalki 2898 AD is the inclusion of certain cameos. Ram Gopal Verma and Disha Patani make brief appearances that add little to the narrative and feel more like distractions than meaningful contributions. Though most of the performances were average, Amitabh Bachchan’s presence and acting might be the only thing memorable in the film that can save it from failure.
The characters may have been brought to screen by a talented ensemble cast, but they lack depth and relatability. This disconnect might make it challenging for the audience to invest emotionally in their journeys. Even Prabhas’s character Bhairava can get extremely irritating at times. Most of his jokes won’t even make you laugh. The only two characters that leave an impact are Ashwatthama, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Kali, played by Kamal Hassan.
Visuals
Kalki 2898 AD is a film that is on par with Hollywood, if we talk only about the visuals. However, the problem is that the setting of the film and the dystopian theme looks hugely copy pasted from various Hollywood films, and it lacks any “Indianness”. Even Kashi does not look Kashi in any way. The film does not explore anything related to Indian culture such as Kundalini Yoga, Chakras, Brahmastra, etc.
Controversy?
A significant reason causing debate among fans is the film’s portrayal of Karna. Many viewers have expressed disappointment and frustration over what they perceive as the glorification of a character often said to be “misunderstood in popular discourse”. Some viewers feel that the film even goes to the extent of justifying Kali, who “kills humans because they destroy the environment”. These kinds of scenes has sparked debates, and many fans can be seem expressing their disappointment on Twitter.
Despite some interesting action scenes, and impressive visuals, the film fails to develop its characters, nor does it manage to provide us a gripping story. Yes, the attempt to make a film based on Indian mythology should be appreciated, but the execution could have been far far better.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10 stars
