By Seth Lukas Hynes
Kalki 2898 AD
Starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone
Rated M
4/5
Kalki 2898 AD is an exuberant, beautiful and thrilling (but messy) Indian science fiction epic based on Hindu mythology.
Set in a postapocalyptic far future, the film follows several factions as they seek to protect or capture Sumathi (Deepika Padukone), a pregnant woman bearing the reincarnated god Kalki.
The action sequences, which range from balletic brawls and superhuman scuffles to sprawling battles, are thrilling, endlessly creative and incredibly fun; many of the over-the-top action beats put a big grin on my face.
Prabhas is a charming anti-hero as the bounty hunter Bhairava, and Amitabh Bachchan is a formidable, towering presence as the protector Ashwatthama.
Kalki has stunning visuals (some janky CGI notwithstanding) and an epic score by Santhosh Narayanan, and the city of Kasi offers a uniquely Hindu spin on the cyberpunk aesthetic.
Kalki is replete with the gravitas and joyful excess typical of Indian cinema, but the heavy exposition and comic relief between Bhairava and his AI companion Bujji can be overbearing; thankfully, much of this is confined to the slow first act (which also has some abrupt editing).
Though well-acted all-round, the supporting characters are somewhat shallow, the film splits our focus with too many villains, and Padukone leaves little impression as Sumathi.
For many viewers (including myself), the rule of cool will largely override these flaws, but the distractingly poor dubbing for the actors is less excusable.
Despite some pacing, character and audio issues, Kalki 2898 AD is an immensely satisfying sci-fi epic playing in select Victorian cinemas.
