Can India’s Most Expensive Film, Kalki 2898 AD, Featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan, Break Box Office Records?
The trailer for ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ has just dropped, and it’s already generating buzz as potentially the biggest Indian film of the year. This multi-starrer Indian blockbuster tells the melodramatic story of a lost boy finding his purpose, reminiscent of popular sci-fi and fantasy franchises.
With comparisons drawn to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ ‘The Hunger Games,’ and ‘Dune,’ ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ began the multiverse phenomenon entering Indian cinema. The film stars an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani. This strategy of leveraging star power to access diverse audiences has been successful in other pan-Indian films like ‘RRR,’ ‘Jawan,’ and ‘Adipurush.’
Prabhas channels a ‘Thor from Hyderabad’ vibe, while Amitabh Bachchan looks stunning. However, there’s a sense that Deepika Padukone needs a break from playing the mother of important children in so many films. Brahmanandam is included, presumably for some comic relief. The film’s impressive VFX team deserves recognition for bringing this sci-fi epic to life.
Despite its star-studded cast and high production values, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ highlights some familiar tropes and clichés. Keerthi Suresh plays a faceless role as Bujji, a bot, which feels like a missed opportunity for such a talented actress.
Touted as the most expensive film ever made in India, with a budget of 600 crore rupees, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ surpasses the cost of India’s historic lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, which was successfully launched last year for 613 crores. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film is positioned as India’s answer to Marvel—a self-reliant, or ‘Atmanirbhar,’ Marvel.
While the film promises to be a visual spectacle and a significant milestone for Indian cinema, it also raises questions about the direction and originality of blockbuster filmmaking in India. Is this trend of creating high-budget, star-studded films with heavy reliance on VFX the future of Indian cinema? Or is it another phase that will eventually give way to more innovative and original storytelling?
Stay tuned for updates on ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and other upcoming Bollywood blockbusters on Hitflik, your go-to source for detailed reviews and the latest movie news.
