Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Hassan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, Saswata Chatterjee, Vijay Devrakonda, SS Rajamouli, Ramgopal Verma, and others
Language: Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil
Director: Nag Ashwin
Stars: ⭐
***
Kalki 2898 AD is a masterclass in squandering a staggering Rs 600 crore budget. From the very outset, the film starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and others, is an unmitigated disaster, plagued by bad dialogues and a storyline that seems to have been cobbled together from the cutting room floor.
Let me begin by talking about what worked for Kalki 2898 AD – That is comparatively easier. Saswata Chatterjee’s character Manas, Amitabh Bachchan’s (Ashwatthama) fight scenes with Prabhas, and the interval. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kalki 2898 AD feels like the offspring of a union between Black Panther and Transformers. Watching this film, you’ll get the sense that it’s attempting to blend elements from both of these classics.
The film opens with a series of disjointed scenes that immediately signal trouble. There’s no coherent storyline to anchor the film, just a cacophony of random events that seem strung together with no logical progression. The plot is so convoluted and unnecessarily ‘Complex’ that even the most seasoned cinephile will struggle to make sense of it.
The screenplay is supremely terrible, filled with cringe-worthy lines that make the talented cast, including the otherwise brilliant Mrunal Thakur, look amateurish. Dulquer Salmaan, usually a powerhouse of nuanced performances, is reduced to playing a brooding, one-dimensional hero with a tragic past that is revealed through a series of poorly written flashbacks. It’s a travesty to see such potential wasted on a project that lacks coherence or any semblance of artistic vision.
Prabhas’ character’s quest to enter ‘Complex’ is successful, but unfortunately, it’s the audience who suffers through this ordeal. What should have been a mind-bending sci-fi adventure becomes an exercise in frustration, as viewers are left to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces.
Spoilers abound, but to be honest, nothing in this film feels worth spoiling. The supposed twists and turns are predictable and do little to salvage the sinking ship.
With a star-studded cast including the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, the charismatic Prabhas, and the ever-elegant Deepika Padukone, one would expect a film that at least delivers on the basics of storytelling and character development. Unfortunately, Kalki 2898 AD is a profound disaster, proving that even the brightest stars can’t save a sinking ship.
From the outset, it’s clear that the film aims for an epic scope, but it quickly becomes apparent that it is all spectacle with no substance. The plot—or what little there is of it—is a tangled web of complex ideas and sci-fi jargon that never coalesces into a coherent narrative. The opening sequence, which should have set the tone for an exhilarating journey, instead bombards viewers with disjointed scenes and confusing exposition.
Prabhas, usually a commanding presence on screen, seems lost in a role that offers him no direction or depth. As a supposed savior of the universe, his character is given no backstory worth investing in, and his motivations remain frustratingly unclear. His performance, which often teeters on the edge of melodrama, is hindered by some of the worst dialogue in recent memory.
Amitabh Bachchan, an actor of unparalleled gravitas, is relegated to a role that requires him to spout pseudo-philosophical nonsense in a voice-over that grows more grating with each passing scene. His character, an ancient sage with supposed wisdom about the fate of the universe, is little more than a narrative crutch used to dump exposition on the audience. Bachchan’s undeniable talent is utterly wasted here, as he is given nothing of substance to work with.
Deepika Padukone, an actress known for her versatility and emotional depth, is similarly shortchanged. Her role as a mysterious intergalactic envoy is laden with potential, but she is confined to a series of cliched scenarios and uninspired dialogue. Her chemistry with Prabhas is non-existent, and their interactions are devoid of any genuine emotion or tension. One particularly cringe-worthy moment involves her delivering the line, “In the dance of the stars, we find our destiny,” with a straight face—a testament to her professionalism, if nothing else.
The plot, if one can call it that, attempts to juggle multiple timelines and dimensions but ends up collapsing under its weight. The film’s narrative structure is a confusing mishmash of flashbacks, dream sequences, and alternate realities that serve only to bewilder the audience. Key plot points are either glossed over or delivered in such a convoluted manner that they lose all impact. For example, the climactic reveal that Prabhas’s character is the reincarnation of an ancient cosmic warrior is so poorly executed that it elicits groans rather than gasps.
The screenplay is riddled with terrible dialogue that alternates between laughably pretentious and unbearably tedious. Characters speak in riddles and platitudes, making it impossible to connect with them on any meaningful level. The film’s pacing is erratic, lurching from one poorly conceived action sequence to another without any regard for narrative flow or character development.
Even the visual effects, which could have been a highlight, are inconsistent. While some scenes boast impressive CGI, others look cheap and unpolished. The result is a jarring visual experience that further detracts from the already abysmal storytelling.
Kalki 2898 AD is a monumental failure that wastes the considerable talents of Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone. With its incoherent plot, terrible dialogue, and supremely awful screenplay, it stands as a cautionary tale of what happens when ambition far outstrips execution. This film is a black hole of wasted potential, and audiences would be wise to steer clear.
Verdict
Kalki 2898 AD is a chaotic mess that fails to justify its exorbitant budget, leaving viewers bewildered and disappointed.
