Kalki 2898 AD is the kind of film that makes you want to believe in Indian cinema's ability to compete on the global stage. It is ambitious, visually stunning, and clearly made with enormous conviction. It is also, unfortunately, a mess.
Nag Ashwin's vision of a post-apocalyptic India where Hindu mythology collides with cyberpunk aesthetics is genuinely original. Prabhas brings surprising gravity to the role of the last sentient being on Earth, and Deepika Padukone's SUM-80 is a compelling creation — part warrior, part mother, entirely alive.
But the film's ambition outpaces its storytelling. At nearly three hours, it lurches between tonal registers, never quite finding the balance between epic and intimate. The final act is exhilarating but exhausting — a CGI-heavy climax that prioritizes spectacle over emotion.