Films: The Problem with Kalki 2898
A sorry case of everything, everywhere, all at once—all packaged in a flashy, big-budget blockbuster.
While the world dealt with COVID in 2020, Telugu director Nag Ashwin signed Prabhas, the Telugu star, and Deepika Padukone, the Bollywood heartthrob, to headline a film initially known as Project K. This became the sci-fi, post-apocalyptic Kalki 2898.
With a staggering production budget of 600 crore (close to $72 million), Kalki 2898 draws inspiration from two Hindu epics: Mahabharata and Kalki Purana. Its star-studded cast includes Indian cinema legends Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Prabhas. Together, these four attract fans of Bollywood, Tollywood, and Kollywood. There is a nod to Bengali cinema with Saswata Chatterjee. There are also many other cameos from across the Indian film industry.
Kalki 2898 appears to amalgamate elements from Star Wars, The Mummy, Black Panther, the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games, and The Handmaid’s Tale, incorporating steampunk, spice punk, and a myriad of sci-fi influences—resulting in a sorry case of everything, everywhere, all at once.
Plot or a hodgepodge?
The convoluted narrative begins on the Kurukshetra battlefield where Lord Krishna curses the invincible warrior Ashwatthama (Bachchan) for nearly defeating the Pandavas. Krishna condemns Ashwatthama to immortality until he atones for his sins by protecting Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Krishna.
Leaping 6,000 years into the future, the film introduces three main characters: the Supreme Yaskin (Haasan), a totalitarian leader who harvests fetuses to bolster his power and dominate the world; Bhairava (Prabhas), a bounty hunter; and Sum 80, or Sumathi (Padukone), a pregnant lab subject.
[Right] Telugu actor Prabhas as Bhairava.
The second half of the film introduces the Brahmashira Astra, the sole weapon that can destroy even the gods, and begins Bhairava’s transformation into a descendant of Karna. The film ends with the capture of the pregnant Sumathi and an unborn Kalki, setting the scene for a cliffhanger in the next installment.
A rich tradition of storytelling gone awry
Southern Indian cinema has a rich tradition of reinterpreting religious texts, and Kalki 2898 attempts to follow suit. However, Ashwin’s ambitious vision of merging two Hindu epics results in a messy execution. Prabhas, portraying first Bhairava and later a descendant of Karna, delivers a lackluster performance, mouthing misogynistic dialogues and consuming unnecessary screen time with irrelevant beauty shots. Padukone, a fan-favorite, is relegated to a largely silent and ornamental role as Sumathi amidst the prevailing macho bravado.
Bachchan’s commanding performance could have been more impactful if Abhishek Bachchan had been cast as the younger Ashwatthama. Saswata Chatterjee’s portrayal of a cringe-worthy character, Commander Manas, seemingly modeled after Kulbhushan Kharbanda’s Shakaal (from Shaan, 1980), is commendable. Haasan is unrecognizable as the Supreme Yashkin—a tremendous disservice to his talent. Bhairava’s love interest feels superfluous, and the song and dance sequences are forgettable.
Missed opportunities and harmful stereotypes
Despite the enormous budget, inflated paychecks, technical collaborations, international partnerships, and heavy reliance on VFX, Kalki 2898 proves that bigger is not always better. The film leaves the viewer groaning—not only begging for a shorter runtime but also lamenting the missed opportunity to address societal issues. Instead, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and glorifies a toxic male savior complex.
[Left] Deepika Padukone’s character, Sum 80, or Sumathi , is relegated to a largely silent and ornamental role amidst the prevailing macho bravado.
Kalki 2898 may rekindle interest in religious texts, but it also risks fanning the flames of fanaticism. If it aimed to provoke societal change through its retelling of beloved, larger-than-life mythological characters, it failed spectacularly. In contrast, many recent down-to-earth films with modest budgets have successfully highlighted Indian culture and society. The charming, folksy Laapata Ladies and several Ayushmann Khurrana-starrers that address taboo issues come to mind.
Despite its intentions, Kalki 2898 squanders the talents of its cast in favor of emulating others, to the detriment of its vulnerable characters. A cleaner, shorter, and more focused storyline—without the excessive beauty shots, visual clutter, and stereotypes—could have made this film more enjoyable for a broader audience. Had Ashwin remained true to his vision of crafting a cinematic epic resonating with lovers of powerful storytelling, he might have secured his place among the greats. Here’s hoping the second installment of Kalki 2898 grants Ashwin and his cast the creative redemption they deserve.
A partnership with Amazon Prime means Kalki 2898 will likely be available on streaming services soon. Nandita Godbole writes on food, cinema, and life, and her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Whetstone Magazine, Healthline, Epicurious, and other publications. Find her on social media @currycravings.
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