A new offering in the Telugu-language sci-fi sector, Kalki 2898 AD proves to be an overwhelming cornucopia of visual splendour and high-octane action, bound together by the charismatic performance of Indian superstar Prabhas. While the film is style-heavy and perhaps a bit too lengthy, it certainly guarantees value for money, as evidenced by its box office triumph. Justifying the film's closing proclamation of "The Kalki Cinematic Universe Continues," its success assures that the creators' lofty expectations were well-grounded.
The plot is equal parts complex and thrilling. Directed and written by Nag Ashwin, this three-hour cinematic tour de force begins with a prologue set in 3102 BC in the aftermath of the Kurukshetra War-a setting most familiar to anyone well-versed in the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata. Warrior Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) is cursed by Krishna to wander the earth eternally, with salvation lying only in safeguarding the mother of Vishnu’s next incarnation, Kalki.
Fast-forward 6,000 years to a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world where the elite control all crucial resources, including water. The affluent reside in a magnificent inverted pyramid called the "Complex," contrasted starkly against the slums below. Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), the Complex’s overseer, helms the sinister Project K. He uses extracted fluids from pregnant women as a source of youth, ruthlessly discarding them thereafter.
However, SUM-80 (Deepika Padukone), one such victim, manages to flee the Complex, gaining notoriety and a price on her head. Compelled by his need to save enough credits to enter the Complex, bounty hunter Bhairava (Prabhas) takes on the task of tracking down SUM-80, only to find himself crossed paths with Ashwatthama, eager to fulfil his divine purpose.
The film channels inspiration from cult-classics like Star Wars, Marvel movies, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, The Matrix, Blade Runner and the Harry Potter series, evident in its diverse array of characters and subplots.
Kalki 2898 AD risks an overload of content but circumvents it with its distinct cinematic flair. It builds an open-ended universe that leaves the audience excited about potential sequels and additions to the Kalki Cinematic Universe. Despite the grandeur potentially being overwhelming, fans of this genre are unlikely to complain.
