Review : Kalki 2898 AD : Visually Spectacular!

The amalgamation of Hindi film industry and Southern film industry has been a blessing for the filmmakers, artists as well as viewers. The best from both sides offer a solid product, the latest being Kalki 2898 AD. The film is a visual delight and the imagination and technical sides are on par with Hollywood. The narrative of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ revolves around the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is foretold to appear on a white horse, marking the conclusion of the #KaliYuga. in #Mahabharat #Ashwatthama (#AmitabhBachchan) is cursed by #LordKrishna with immortality. The movie’s story is taken further with imginative writing and presentation. This cinematic world is inspired by Hindu mythology.

The last remaining city, Kasi, is under the tyrannical rule of Commander Manas (Saswata Chatterjee) and governed by the enigmatic God King Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), who resides in a mysterious fortress known as the Complex where fertile women are executed and men getting enslaved. Bhairava (Prabhas) seems to be a savior of Shambhala. The rebels of Shambhala rescue SUM80 (Deepika Padukone) who is pregnant and is destined to give birth to an avatar who will save the earth from the cluthes of evil forces like Supreme Yaskin. What transpires around it forms the crux of the story.

Writer-director Nag Ashwin employs his creative talent to immerse the audience in a visually breathtaking universe through his storytelling. The first half drags but things pick up in the latter part. Production design is fantabulous but there are flaws in the scripting. Too many situations and too many characters are distracting. The cinematography by Djordje Stojilijkovic is breathtaking. Amitabh Bachchan stands out and one gets a feeling that he is the main lead. Prabhas has done justice to his character but futile attempt to create comedy (writing flaw) should have been avoided.

Deepika Padukone delivers a commendably restrained performance as a character who is destined to gain immense power. Saswata Chatterjee’s portrayal of Commander Manas is loud. Kamal Haasan, once again, excels in a uniquely chilling role. Cameo appearances by Vijay Deverakonda, Mrunal Thakur, Dulquer Salmaan, S.S. Rajamouli, and Ram Gopal Varma, though brief, leave a lasting impression.

Rating : ***1/2

By Keerti Kadam