Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic science fiction film. Produced by C. Aswini Dutt, Swapna Dutt, and Priyanka Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies, the film features an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in the year 2898 AD, the film follows a mission to save the unborn child, Kalki, of SUM-80, a lab subject. The film is the first installment in the planned Kalki Cinematic Universe and is inspired by Hindu scriptures.
The film was officially announced in February 2020 under the tentative title Prabhas 21, later changed to Project K. Principal photography began in July 2021, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and wrapped by late-May 2024. The official title, Kalki 2898 AD, was announced in July 2023. The film’s music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, with cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. With a production budget of ₹600 crore (US$72 million), it is the most expensive Indian film. Initially scheduled for release on 9 May 2024, it was postponed and released worldwide on 27 June 2024 in IMAX, 3D, and other formats to generally positive reviews from critics.
In 3102 BC, following the Kurukshetra War, Ashwatthama attempts to kill Uttarā’s unborn child by invoking the Brahmashirastra. For this act, Krishna curses him to roam the earth as an immortal. His divine gem is taken from his forehead, and his redemption is destined to occur through protecting and guiding Vishnu’s last avatar, Kalki, during the Kali Yuga.
By 2898 AD, six thousand years into the Kali Yuga, the desertified city of Kasi stands as the last known city in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by Supreme Yaskin, a totalitarian god-king. Yaskin rules from the “Complex”, an inverted-pyramidal-megastructure that hovers above the city, extracting Earth’s resources to sustain a gated paradise accessible only to those who can pay 1 million “units”. His authority is enforced by Commander Manas, Counsellor Bani, and the Raiders, who vigilantly guard against threats, particularly the prophesied arrival of Kalki.
In this dystopian society, fertile female refugees in Kasi are forcibly taken to the Complex for Project K, an experiment aimed at producing a life-extending serum for the 200-year-old Yaskin through artificially inseminated foetuses. However, no woman survives more than 120 days of pregnancy, resulting in their deaths. Raia, a young girl disguised as a boy, narrowly escapes conscription with the help of rebels led by Rumi from the hidden city of Shambhala. Unfortunately, Rumi and Divya, falsely rumoured to be pregnant with Kalki, are captured and executed in public by Manas for not revealing Shambhala’s location.
Raia finds refuge in a cave, where she encounters Ashwatthama. She unknowingly brings him his divine gem, Shivamani, from the Shambhala rebels. Together, they set out to find the real mother of Kalki. SUM-80, a Project K subject hiding her 150-day pregnancy, is eventually captured. Manas extracts a drop of serum from her foetus, but the procedure is interrupted by Lilly, a Shambhala rebel posing as a Project K subject. Lilly helps SUM-80 escape but stays behind to fight off the Raiders. Outside, they are met by other Shambhala rebels: Veeran, Kyra, and Ajju. Kyra renames SUM-80 as “Sumathi”. En route to Shambhala, their convoy is ambushed by bounty hunters and Raiders after Manas places a bounty on Sumathi. Though they fend off the attackers, Kyra is killed.
Bhairava, a bounty hunter aiming to secure Sumathi’s bounty to enter the Complex, remains in pursuit with his AI supercar, Bujji. Ashwatthama learns through his gem that Sumathi’s unborn child is Kalki. Despite Bhairava’s efforts, Ashwatthama subdues him and the group reaches Shambhala, where the tree of life blooms in recognition of Kalki’s presence. Bhairava makes a deal with Manas to capture Sumathi in exchange for his entry into the Complex.
Bhairava discovers Shambhala by deceiving a spy, Luke, and disguises himself as Ashwatthama by using his hologram technology. He convinces Sumathi to flee Shambhala, but they are intercepted by the real Ashwatthama. As they fight, Shambhala’s leader, Mariam, takes Sumathi away. Bhairava, overpowered by Ashwatthama, transforms Bujji into a humanoid fighter but is again defeated. Manas and the Raiders track Bhairava to Shambhala and breach its defenses with a beam weapon provided by Yaskin. The Raiders overwhelm the Shambhalan army, and Mariam is killed. Manas chains Ashwatthama, but Bhairava, wielding Ashwatthama’s walking stick, which is actually revealed to be Karna’s bow, Vijaya Dhanush, awakens and attacks the Raiders.
Bhairava, who is revealed to be a reincarnation of Karna, uses the bow’s power to rescue Sumathi and kill Manas. Ashwatthama, recognizing his old friend, breaks free, but Bhairava, reminded of the bounty by Bujji, reverts to his former self and takes Sumathi away. Back at the Complex, Yaskin, informed of Manas’s failure and death by Counsellor Bani, uses the extracted serum drop to transform into a youthful superhuman with multiple arms. He picks up Arjuna’s bow, Gandiva, and declares his intention to personally capture Sumathi and her son and reshape the world.
The film features a star-studded cast with Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama, Kamal Haasan as Supreme Yaskin, Prabhas in a dual role as Bhairava and Karna, Deepika Padukone as SUM-80 alias Sumathi, and Disha Patani as Roxie. Other notable actors include Saswata Chatterjee as Commander Manas, Brahmanandam as Rajan, Rajendra Prasad as Rumi, Shobhana as Mariam, Pasupathy as Veeran, Anna Ben as Kyra, and many more.
Kalki 2898 AD is a visual spectacle with high-end technology and futuristic vehicles developed specifically for the film. The production team collaborated with Mahindra & Mahindra for technical support. The film’s visual effects were handled by Prime Focus DNEG and The Embassy Visual Effects, creating a desert wasteland, futuristic vehicles, and three distinct worlds: Kasi, Shambhala, and the Complex.
The film’s music, composed by Santhosh Narayanan, adds to the epic narrative. The audio rights were acquired by Saregama. The film’s marketing included a first look released on 19 July 2023, and it became the first Indian film to be presented at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall-H on 20 July 2023. The official trailer was released on 10 June 2024, followed by a release-trailer on 21 June 2024.
Kalki 2898 AD is a cinematic experience that combines mythology, science fiction, and a gripping narrative, making it a must-watch for fans of epic storytelling.
Source: Various sources
