Reshma Raikwar
One can definitely say about Pata. While watching ‘Brahmastra’ directed by Ayan Mukherjee, one expected to see a good thing done with great VFX. The film ‘Brahmastra’, which succeeded in accomplishing it to some extent, was more of a love story. In ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, the director has managed to bring together a fictional universe built on the basis of VFX, the use of famous actors from across the country to tell the story of Kalki avatar with reference to Mahabharata. But, the success of any grand film depends on how strong its story base is, but here this over-the-top sci-fi flick has failed.
Any fantasy story, be it based on mythology or freedom period, how to present that universe to the audience on the basis of VFX and how to engage them in it, director S. S. Rajamouli has got it right. Irrespective of any method of elaboration of the story, it is necessary to arrange it according to the Indian mentality, accordingly the music should also be planned. In that regard, Nag Ashwin’s film is very poor. The film begins with the battle fought over Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata, the killing of Uttara and her unborn child by the Brahmastra at the hands of Ashwatthama, resulting in Lord Krishna’s curse on Ashwatthama. After many years, when the sin and injustice of the Kali Yuga will reach its climax on earth, Vishnu’s Kalki avatar will be born. Then you will have to fight to save that new avatar, says Shri Krishna to Ashwatthama. The story then moves directly to the Kashi region six thousand years later. Ganga Maiya washed away the sins of the people, Kashi became a desolate desert. The last living city on earth. Coincidentally, this city also has two parts like India and India. In Kashi, people without food, water, home, etc. can wander. In the middle of this city there is a different institution called ‘Complex’ in the shape of an inverted pyramid. This city built by Supreme Yaskin. It takes a million units to go to this one and only green city that absorbs all the natural resources on earth and keeps the green for itself, and the units are added to the human account when the rebels are captured and handed over to the commander of the complex. Supreme Yaskin, the hero of the forces of evil, has a different story. Kalki should not be born, his ongoing struggle to become a superpower, the pregnant women who are banned as part of it, an important character ‘Sumati’ among these women, the search for the mother who gave birth to Kalki and the rebels’ city of Shambhala, away from the complex’s eyes, are many subplots and so on. The characters are intertwined. It has another important character named Bhairav. He wants to gain access to the Yenkenprakken complex. Whether it’s good or bad, what does it have to do with the plot above? How does Ashwatthama relate to the responsibility given by Krishna in all this? You have to watch this movie to understand all this.
Starting from the Kurukshetra of Mahabharata, six thousand years later, the threads of many sub-plots and characters are woven together in Kashi. But, if there was clarity about what exactly the story wanted to convey, the story would have moved faster without wasting time on Bhairava played by actor Prabhas in the first half. The city of Kashi set up for this futuristic plot, the structure of the complex, the new look given to the villain Supreme Yaskin, the soldiers of Kashi-Shambhala, their cars flying in the sky, laser weapons, everything is created by the director Nag Ashwin on the basis of VFX. While watching it, many Hollywood films like ‘Dune’, ‘Star Wars’, ‘Mad Max Saga’ will pass before your eyes. You will feel the similarities in it, at the beginning, you will feel that what is in it is yours. But in the second half, everything has been well adapted by the director to the imaginary world created by this VFX. The film holds us to some extent as it also references mythology and characters. And what will happen next? It succeeds in creating excitement about the subject.
But to make the audience laugh or get applause, from Par Ramgopal Varma to Rajamouli, the directors in different roles, Dulquer Salmaan-Vijay Deverakonda, Mrinal Thakur, many famous faces keep coming and going. All the actors from South to North like Mrinal Thakur, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Saswata Chatterjee are in it. However, since the original film is in Telugu language, it should be noted that only southern actors have been cast as ‘stars’ in important roles. A lot of credit should be given to mega hero Amitabh Bachchan for saving this film which has no audible music at all. The importance of the mythological Ashwatthama, the depth of his character, his brilliance, his magnificence are all fully conveyed through Amitabh Bachchan’s body language. The use of AI, the scenes using modern techniques like VFX, the heavy costumes for the same, they have lived the role of Ashwatthama without any pressure. On the contrary, Prabhas, who plays the hero of the film, has been overplayed. Deepika Padukone has played the role of Sumati with aplomb. Kamal Haasan has also shown his strength in one or two scenes in this film. Was Disha Patani in the movie? And why was it? Both questions remain unanswered. This new story and technique would have been more worthwhile if more effort had been put into the screenplay by avoiding the temptation to use this unwanted spice. Even accepting all these crude links, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ must be seen at least once as a new experiment.
Kalki 2898 AD
Director – Nag Ashwin
Starring – Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Vijay Deverakonda, Kamal Haasan, Saswat Chatterjee.
