In the Telugu sci-fi film "Kalki 2898 AD", set in the year 2898 AD, Amitabh Bachchan dominates the screen despite Prabhas being the headline star. The film, which ambitiously gathers a pan-Indian cast, struggles to maintain a tight and engaging screenplay throughout its massive runtime.
The film redeems itself in the second half with a rousing climax, filled with epic confrontations. Amitabh Bachchan, portraying Ashwatthama, a character surviving since the age of the Mahabharata, delivers a compelling performance. His character, alongside Kamal Haasan's Supreme Yaskin, stands out. Prabhas, as Bhairava, takes time to find his stride, often overshadowed by Bachchan's gravitas.
Despite the array of characters and celebrity cameos, the film struggles with pacing, particularly in its humor, which falls flat in the Hindi version. A notable exception is the robot Bujji, voiced by Keerthy Suresh, who provides some levity.
While "Kalki 2898 AD" has moments of brilliance, especially in its second half, it falls short of being a consistent and gripping spectacle. The film, starring a high-profile cast including Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, and Shobhana, receives a rating of 2.5 stars.
Kalki 2898 AD Cast and Crew:
- Director: Nag Ashwin
- Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Disha Patani, Saswata Chatterjee, Shobhana, Anil George, Rajendra Prasad, Pasupathy, Anna Ben, Malvika Nair, Ayaz Pasha, Keerthy Suresh