Kalki 2898 AD has released today but does this Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan starrer deserve your time and attention?
Kalki 2898 AD starring Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani amongst others has released in theatres today. It is directed by Nag Ashwin and claims to be one of India's biggest films that marries mythology with sci-fi. There has been great buzz around Kalki 2898 AD and audience has been eager to see the one-of-a-kind visual spectacle starring some of the biggest names from the Indian film industry. But does the film meet expectations? Does Kalki 2898 AD prove to be a must-watch experience? Does Prabhas create the same magic that pulled in crowds during Baahubali? Check out our Kalki 2898 AD movie review to know it all.
Movie Review: Kalki 2898 AD
Release date: June 27, 2024 in theatres
OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video after theatrical run
Cast: Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani, Saswata Chatterjee, Brahmanandam, Anna Ben, Shobana, Mrunal Thakur, Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Deverakonda amongst others.
Director: Nag Ashwin
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What's Kalki 2898 AD all about?
Kalki 2898 AD is a typical destroyer vs savior battle but what sets it apart is the dystopian landscape. Set in world's last city, Kashi, Yaskin (Kamal Haasan) dreams of a new world and in his inaccessible Complex, he puts his plans into action, using Sumathi (Deepika Padukone) for his experiment. This sets Bhairava (Prabhas), a bounty hunter who aspires to find a place in the exclusive Complex, on a hunt to find Sumathi. But he has to confront the powerful Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) who is on the mission to save Sumathi from Yaskin's experiment. Who will win this battle and will Sumathi be saved or be captured by those with cruel intentions inside the Complex? Do Bhairava and Ashwatthama have a past connection and how is Sumathi connected to the Rebels of Shambala, all these mysteries form the main story of Kalki 2898 AD.
What's hot?
Kalki 2898 AD is a VFX marvel. Whatever the film lacks in screnplay and story, it makes up with being a visual experience like no other. It is a film that will make Indian audience proud of how far Indian filmmakers have come with the use of technology in their storytelling. Nag Ashwin puts in an earnest effort in establishing his story which takes a leaf from ancient mythology and ties up to a futuristic event. His VFX team turns out to be a strong support in bringing his vision to life. The best part is that the story is not too complex to apprehend, something which many movies set in a dystopian world fail at.
Prabhas as Bhairava is a treat to watch for his ardent fans and his comraderie with his AI assistant Bujji is endearing and more interesting than his chemistry with Disha Patani. Talking about the actress, she looks uber cool but doesn't have much to do in the film.
Deepika Padukone is a pro and there is no role that she does which is not captivating. She as Sumathi is the perfect choice and makes you wonder if her role in Brahmastra would have been on a similar line had she more screen time there.
Kamal Haasan, the legend, has very less screenspace but he owns it with his impeccable performance. But fret not, as the climax hints that there is much more of him that we can expect in part 2.
It is Amitabh Bachchan, the enchanting, towering Ashwatthama who is the true hero of Kalki 2898 AD and watching him on the big screen is a delightful experience.
The BGM is on point and the cinematography takes the whole experience a notch higher. There are various cameos as well in the film from the likes of SS Rajamouli, Vijay Deverakonda, Dulqer Salman amongst others, acting as perfect highlights.
What's not?
The screenplay could have been tighter to match the mood of a sci-fi thriller. There were some scenes and characters that looked forced as they didn't add any value to the narrative. There were also some comic scenes that were wrongly timed and seemed to be made a part of the film to do justice to the actors' comic timing, without thinking through the impact or value. The first half tests your patience at times with stretched narrative and lacks lustre as compared to the second half, that literally makes the film a decent experience.
Final verdict:
Watch Kalki 2898 AD for the visual spectacle that it is. The VFX is top notch, at par Hollywood and the cinematography is a winner. the storyline where mythology blends with an unimaginable future keep you hooked and so will the performances, especially by Amitabh Bachchan.
