KALKI 2898 strikes as one of the films that push the boundaries of Indian cinema. The CGI of the film makes an excellent effort to bring the epics like Mahabharata to life.
The world of KALKI is a reference from Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, including the stories of Krishna. Not to mention Dune and Blade Runner 2. Kashi is a desert wasteland run by powerful cruel authorities. The poor are enslaved by the rich and powerful. It’s a place surrounded by bounty hunters and criminals. The women are enslaved and forced into prostitution. They are even killed for giving birth to each child. There is no law in Kashi, just tyrannical rule and power.
The storytelling is done in 3 acts in a proper manner. In the opening of the 1st ACT, there is a story of the Mahabharata war and Ashwathama’s curse. Then, the world of KASHI is established- a futuristic city, where the poor suffer in the hands of the rich. The cruel authoritarian ruler of the place is Supreme Yaskin. His general, COMMANDER MANAS does his dirty work. This act also surrounds a prophecy, that Vishnu’s final avatar will be the end of all. Then, Bhairava shows up and we see his career as a bounty hunter. He is also reckless and stupid.
The inciting incident happens when one of the pregnant slave worker named SUM 80 escapes and hides from his evil army. The 2nd ACT is where the adventure kickstarts. SUM 80 runs away with a group of rebels. Bhairava is given the bounty to run after the pregnant woman.
This is where the conflict happens between Bhairava and Ashwathama for the same price. Bhairava is defeated and Ashwathama becomes the protector of SUM 80. They both head to the safe zone. In the midpoint, Bhairava doesn’t give up. He ensure Commander Manas that, he will bring his price back. Ashwathama takes the pregnant woman to a safe place. ACT 3 is where the tension and stakes are raised. Bhairava crashes into the safe zone, unleashing enormous amount of conflict and a twist.
The inspiration of this story came from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It is also inspired from Dune and Mad Max Fury Road. This film also takes inspiration from biblical mythology.
All the characters in the film have a major role in the story-
1. Bhairava- He is a bounty hunter. He cares about himself more than others. His dream is to be rich and for that, he has to collect a bounty. He also holds a strange secret.
2. SUM 80- She is a slave worker for SUPREME YASKIN. She also bears a child, who will one day free the people from the cruel tyrannical rule. Her child is what brings in the stakes and conflict in the story.
3. Ashwathama- He is the main protector of the pregnant woman. His main opponent is Bhairava. He is immortal and cannot be defeated. His main ghost is his curse, given by Krishna.
4. Roxie- He is Bhairava’s love interest. She shares the same dream as Bhairava- TO LIVE A RICH LIFE. She also explains Bhairava’s flaws.
5. Commander Manas- Loyal to supreme Yaskin. His main goal is to retrieve a pregnant woman, who bears a god. Manas is cruel and arrogant and he will stop at nothing, until he retrieves his price.
6. Supreme Yaskin- He is the real villain of the film. He has telekinetic abilities. His commands his dark forces and will stop at nothing, until he kills the child, thought to be the end of all.
The VFX in the film is a game changer. Nag Ashwin and his team have executed the best VFX. The entire structure of Kashi is pure CGI. Even the car chase sequence is shot in CGI. The fight scene between Bhairava and Ashwathama are all CGI fight sequences. Even CGI was used to de age Amitabh Bachaan in the Mahabharata film. The look of supreme Yaskin is pure CGI.
The costume helps to describe the world and the characters. Bhairava wears an armored suit and gloves, which gives him the look of the bounty hunter. Ashwathama wears a huge cloth all over his body, depicting him as a powerful mystical force. Commander Manas wears a black cloak revealing him as powerful and strong. The slave workers wear dark robes, depicting as a sign of slavery and torture.
Here are a list of scenes, that I liked-
• THE MAHABHARATA SCENE.
• BHAIRAVA VS ASHWATHAMA.
• THE CHASE SEQUENCE.
• THE LAST WAR.
• BHAIRAVA’S INTRO.
This is one of the finest movies of Indian cinema never seen before. This film will definitely blow you away. Watch it in Imax, as soon as possible.