Kalki 2898 AD is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic mythological science fiction film written and directed by Nag Ashwin. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, it features an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Shobana and Disha Patani. Inspired by Hindu scriptures, the film serves as the first installment in the planned Kalki Cinematic Universe. Set in a dystopian future in the year 2898 AD in the city of Kashi, the story follows a group on a mission to protect lab subject SUM-80's unborn child, believed to be Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu. The film was officially announced in February 2020 and had the working title of Project K. Principal photography commenced a year later in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was shot sporadically over the next three years extensively in Ramoji Film City and wrapped by late-May 2024. The official title was revealed in July 2023. The film features music by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic, and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Kalki 2898 AD was initially scheduled for release on 9 May 2024, but was postponed due to unfinished post-production work. It was released worldwide on 27 June 2024 in standard, IMAX, and 3D formats with positive reviews praising Ashwin's direction, screenplay, background score, visual effects, concept, penultimate scenes and Bachchan's performance. With a ₹600 crore production budget, it is the most expensive Indian film ever made. The film grossed an estimated ₹1,100 crore globally and has set multiple box office records for an Indian and Telugu film, becoming the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2024, the fourth highest-grossing Telugu film, and the tenth highest-grossing Indian film of all time. The film won four Telangana Gaddar Film Awards, including Best Film, and four South Indian International Movie Awards including Best Film – Telugu. At the 72nd National Film Awards 2024, it won 2 awards including Best Production Design and Best Popular Feature Film.
Plot In the aftermath of the Kurukshetra War, Ashwatthama unleashes the Brahmastra weapon to terminate the unborn child of Uttarā, aiming to systematically extinguish the Pandava lineage. As retribution for his malice, Krishna curses Ashwatthama with painful immortality and eternal suffering. He condemns him to wander the Earth for six millennia until he can redeem his soul by protecting the mother of Kalki, the prophesied final avatar of Vishnu. Six thousand years later, in the year 2898 AD, Earth has deteriorated into a desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland. The historic city of Kashi stands as the final remaining bastion of humanity. Kashi is autocratically ruled by Supreme Yaskin, a totalitarian God king who resides in the "Complex", a massive, technologically advanced inverted pyramid floating above the city, accessible only to the wealthy elite. Impoverished and fertile women from the outskirts are systematically abducted for Project K, a secretive laboratory experiment aimed at extracting a life-extending serum from artificial pregnancies to grant Yaskin absolute immortality. None of the subjects have ever survived the lethal extraction process past the 150-day threshold. SUM-80, a captive laboratory subject, successfully reaches the 150-day milestone of her pregnancy. Recognising the impending danger, she escapes the high-security compound with the assistance of a rebel faction originating from Shambhala, a hidden mountain sanctuary populated by refugees who believe in the Kalki prophecy. During their trek back to Shambhala, a rebel named Kyra renames the subject Sumathi. However, their convoy is ambushed by Yaskin's militarised forces, known as the Raiders, alongside independent bounty hunters. Among them is Bhairava, a cynical mercenary who seeks to secure enough bounty points to earn a luxurious life inside the Complex, aided by his sentient AI vehicle, BU-JZ-1 aka Bujji. Kyra sacrifices herself to buy the group time, allowing Ashwatthama, who senses the divine presence of Kalki within Sumathi, to intervene, overpower the assailants, and take custody of her. The group successfully reaches the hidden kingdom of Shambhala, where the natural world immediately begins blooming in Sumathi's presence. Ashwatthama encourages her to accept her cosmic role as the mother of the avatar. He also confides in his companion Raia, a young girl who disguised herself as a boy to evade the Raider abductions, revealing his ancient ties to the legendary warrior Karna through the mystical bow, the Vijaya Dhanush. Meanwhile, desperate for his passport into the Complex, Bhairava negotiates a deal with Commander Manas, Yaskin's chief military enforcer, to capture and deliver Sumathi. Manipulating a young Shambhalan named Luke, Bhairava infiltrates the sanctuary disguised as Ashwatthama and attempts to abduct Sumathi, leading to a fierce duel when the real Ashwatthama confronts him. Exploiting the distraction, Manas and a legion of Raiders launch a full-scale invasion of Shambhala, killing the resistance leader, Mariam, and successfully subduing a weakened Ashwatthama. During the absolute chaos, Bhairava accidentally handles the Vijaya Dhanush as a sacred leaf falls upon it. This contact triggers a temporary cosmic awakening, revealing Bhairava to be the reincarnation of Karna. Imbued with divine combat skills and immense strength, an empowered Bhairava single-handedly decimates the Raider forces and executes Manas to protect Sumathi, though he returns to his normal state entirely unaware of his true past life. In a mid-credits sequence, Supreme Yaskin successfully consumes a single, harvested drop of Sumathi's fetal serum. The concentrated fluid grants him immense godlike physical power, a youthful physique, and a supernatural manifestation of multiple arms. Empowered by the serum, Yaskin effortlessly lifts the Gandiva, the legendary bow of Arjuna, and vows to personally lead his army to reshape the world, signalling the dawn of a dark new era.
Cast Adapted from the opening and closing credits:
Cameo appearances
Production
Development
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