Kalki 2898 AD review

Kalki 2898 AD movie review:

Summary:

The Mahabharata and a dystopian future. A storytelling and visual spectacle. An absolute must watch. Brilliance of Nag Ashwin world building-Prabhas-Amitabh-graphics team ably supported by good character roles, cameos and the rest of the team of Vyjayanthi Movies (Aswini Dutt, Swapna Dutt, Priyanka Dutt and co). India's answer to Marvel verse (till Endgame). Graphics almost as good and story better. Best film of the year. 9/10.

Details:

(Will give warning before spoilers, not to worry)

Positives:

1. The whole worldbuilding: The flashbacks to the Mahabharata events are very well done. The dystopian future where things have gotten worse in the Kaliyuga is also very well thought of and executed - futuristic stuff, technology, weapons, Kashi, Shambala cities, the Complex etc!!

2. Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama is just absolutely brilliant. The best acting in the film. The intensity and energy at this age is mindblowing. Just so good in the fight scenes. And of course his dialogue delivery is just as good as it ever was. Truly the Shahenshah!

3. Prabhas the actor is fully back after Baahubali 2! Salaar had emotions, but didn't have the dialogues. But here Prabhas shines in the dialogues also, especially the comic sections. Amazing hilarious in those. His screen presence is of course large and the fight scenes amazing, especially between Prabhas's Bhairava and Amitabh's Ashwatthama. And then of course the ending of the movie!

4. The graphics. top notch at most places. Almost as good as Marvel. Almost.

5. The story is engaging for most part and keeps you hooked.

6. Deepika as SUM-80 or Sumathi has done good. That one scene near interval time is epic! 

7. Majority of the character roles are very good to excellent - Anna Ben as Kyra, Shobhana as Mariam, Keya Nair as Raia the kid, Kamal as Supreme Yaskin. Wish Kamal's role was little longer. Anna Ben shone the most among these for me. Full of life and great fight scenes.

8. Even Saswata Chatterjee as Commander Manas, Anil George as Counsellor Bani, Kavya Ramachandran as Lily etc. All very good to excellent! Keerthy Suresh is a hoot as the voiceover for Bujji (artificial intelligence machine)

9. The cameo/shorter roles: Fun cameos from RGV, Rajamouli. Dulquer has a short impactful cameo, but could lead to more in part2. Mrunal has a short, impactful cameo. She was Nag Ashwin's first choice for the role of Sumathi. But he himself suggested her for Sita Ramam (same production house - Vyjayanthi Films). As there was a scheduling clash, had to pick only among the 2. She rightly chose Sita Ramam as that's the role of a lifetime. The directors/producers concurred.

Would have been great if she could have done both (her impact as Sumathi would have been better), but you can't have everything. Nice that she had a cameo.

Meh stuff/Things that could have been better/Negatives:

1. The reformed Ashwatthama (in 2898 AD time) saying Karna was a better warrior than Arjuna. No, he wasn't. At best, at similar level. But Arjuna was the better warrior overall.

2. The BGM was hit and miss. Good at some places, not good at others. Good BGM throughout could have elevated the movie to another level.

3. The cameo role of Vijay. Doesn't suit for that. Disha role as Roxie nothing particularly great, but suited her I guess. Worked ok for me. Brahanandam is a legendary comedic actor, but not particularly funny/good cameo in this film IMO.

Important annoucement: As per Aswini Dutt, the producer, 60% of Kalki2 shoot is complete. But major parts are remaining. Looking forward to part2.

Now getting to spoilers/potential pathways. Skip, skip, skip if you have not yet watched:

Spoilers/Future pathways:

1. The reveal of Bhairava as Karna re-incarnation was a surprise. I just hope they don't whitewash the Karna of Mahabharata. He was a grey character. Not just a poor unfortunate good one. What they do with re-incarnation as Bhairava is of course fine.

2. Bujji saying Bhairava changes story about the Captain (played by Dulquer) everytime. Suggesting he's atleast partly lying when he says the story. So it is possible that in part 2, the Captain is shown as Parashurama (Chiranjeevi/immortal).Karna was Parashurama shishya.Or re-incarnation of Drona? (less likely I know, but would make for a nice surprise). Karna was also Drona shishya. (myth has been spread that he wasn't)

3. Vijay Devarakonda doesn't fit the role of Arjuna. Doesn't have the gravitas, display the wisdom.

4. Kamal as Supreme Yaskin will either be Kali or Kali's right hand man in part 2 - the most reasonable assumption. But they show him lifting the Gandiva. No explanation. Is there a twist in there?