Storyline of Kalki 2898 AD
In the year 2898 AD, the tenth and final avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kalki, is poised to be born, heralding a new era amidst a dystopian world fraught with malevolent forces.
Review of Kalki 2898 AD
‘Kalki 2898 AD’ begins with a gripping depiction of the aftermath of the Mahabharata war, when Lord Krishna cursed Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) with immortality. This sets the stage for a fictional narrative within a star-studded cinematic universe, deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. The story revolves around the prophesied arrival of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is foretold to appear on a white horse, signaling the end of the Kali Yuga.
Writer-director Nag Ashwin crafts his story around this prophecy, using his imaginative prowess to transport the audience into a visually stunning world. This visual spectacle is the film’s biggest strength. Ashwin, with the help of his cinematographer Djordje Stojiljkovic, takes us into the lone existing city of Kasi, ruled by the evil Commander Manas (Saswata Chatterjee) and led by God King Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), who resides in a mysterious powerhouse known as Complex. It’s a dark world where fertile women are killed and men are enslaved. The only ray of hope is Bhairava (Prabhas) and a motley group of rebels from Shambhala, who rescue SUM-80 (Deepika Padukone), the bearer of the awaited avatar.
The film presents a simple story tangled in a complex web of characters and subplots, some of which have little relevance to the broader narrative. Ashwin’s plot meanders into unnecessary detours, making it tiring to wait for the story to get back on track. The first half especially suffers from this back-and-forth, particularly with Prabhas’ character. The futile attempts at comedy, even with a veteran like Brahmanandam (who plays Bhairava’s landlord Rajan), fall flat, as does Bhairava’s half-baked love angle with Roxie (Disha Patani), which could have been entirely omitted.
Thankfully, the film picks up pace in the second half with Amitabh Bachchan’s re-entry. The veteran superstar wows us with his infectious energy in high-octane action scenes. Even with all the special effects and latest tools of computer animation, he manages to bring realism to Ashwatthama’s unbridled power. Deepika Padukone shows commendable restraint and skill in playing a subdued character destined to eventually be powerful.
South superstar Shobhana provides solid support as the wise Mariam. Saswata Chatterjee comes across as somewhat caricaturish in his role as Commander Manas, while Kamal Haasan delivers a chilling performance as Supreme Yaskin. Special appearances by Vijay Deverakonda, Mrunal Thakur, Dulquer Salmaan, S.S. Rajamouli, and Ram Gopal Varma leave a brief but memorable impact.
The film’s production design by Nitin Zihani Choudhary deserves special mention for creating a captivating visual landscape that enhances the immersive experience. Although the music score by Santhosh Narayanan is a letdown, the background score effectively complements the film’s narrative, elevating key moments.
‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is undeniably a larger-than-life visual spectacle that transports viewers into a vividly imagined universe. The film’s visual quality is so high that it overshadows many of its flaws, engaging the audience in the atmospheric world of Kasi and the Complex. Moreover, it’s a concept that can spark imaginative experiences beyond the cinema. If you enjoy diving into a world of epic battles between gods, good, and evil, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ offers a satisfying audio-visual experience, though it may require some patience.
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