Film review of Kalki 2898 AD by Sukanya.
Kalki 2898 AD is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic science fiction film directed by Nag Ashwin and produced by Vyjayanthi Movies. With a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, the film draws inspiration from Hindu mythology, positioning itself as the first installment in the planned Kalki Cinematic Universe. The story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world in the year 2898 AD, revolving around a mission to save Kalki, the unborn child of SUM-80, a lab subject.
Setting the Scene
Officially announced in February 2020, the film’s production faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with principal photography commencing in July 2021 and wrapping up by late May 2024. The film’s high production budget of ₹600 crore (US$72 million) makes it the most expensive Indian film ever made. After much anticipation, Kalki 2898 AD was released worldwide on June 27, 2024, in various formats including IMAX, 3D, and 4DX. Despite initial delays, the film emerged as a commercial success, grossing ₹1,000 crore (US$120 million) worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024.
Initial Excitement
Upon release, Kalki 2898 AD dazzled audiences with its stunning visuals and ambitious narrative. The film blends the grandeur of mythological storytelling with the cutting-edge aesthetics of science fiction. With a plot that spans millennia, featuring divine curses, immortal warriors, and a dystopian society, the film aimed to be a cinematic spectacle.
Emerging Issues
However, as the film progressed, viewers and critics began to notice its flaws. The primary criticism centered around its excessive length and slow pacing. The film, though rich in visual and thematic content, often felt dragged out. Scenes that could have been concise were extended unnecessarily, causing the narrative to lose momentum. This pacing issue became a significant drawback, making the film feel tedious despite its grand ambitions.
While the visual effects, performances, and musical score received praise, the sluggish pace and prolonged runtime left many viewers disenchanted. The intricate plot, interwoven with mythological elements, struggled to maintain the audience’s engagement over its extended duration. The film’s potential to be a riveting epic was overshadowed by its failure to deliver a tightly edited and compelling narrative.
It’s clear that Kalki 2898 AD had all the elements of a groundbreaking epic but faltered in execution. The film’s length and slow pacing are significant issues that could have been mitigated with more rigorous editing. By trimming unnecessary scenes and focusing on key plot points, the film could have maintained a brisker pace, enhancing its overall impact.
Kalki 2898 AD remains an ambitious project that showcases the potential of Indian cinema to blend mythology with futuristic storytelling. However, its flaws highlight the importance of pacing and editing in film production. A more concise version could have delivered a more engaging and powerful experience, fulfilling the promise of its grand vision. In its current form, the film serves as a reminder that even the most visually stunning epics need to maintain a tight narrative to truly captivate their audience.
Picture fromIMDb
Sukanya Basu Mallik is a renowned Indian writer, known for her works in various publications and for winning Best Manuscript Awards for fiction & non-fiction categories (Mumbai Litofest, 2018). She is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras, focusing on organisational behaviour and art-based therapies for enhancing teaching-learning effectiveness using immersive technologies. She was recognised for her short story ‘Healing of Wounds’ at NCLF, led by Ruskin Bond.
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