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Even six weeks after its release, Nag Ashwin's Kalki continues to break box office records globally. The film has crossed 1100 crore collection worldwide making it the highest grossing Indian film this year, only five spots away from being number one overall. Set in a futuristic dystopian world, Kalki 2898 AD follows the journey of Bhairava(Prabhas), a warrior destined to restore balance to a chaotic and war-torn society. As humanity teeters on the brink of extinction, Bhairava must navigate through political intrigue, ancient prophecies and formidable enemies. Alongside him are key characters played by Deepika Padukone(Sum 80/ Sumathi), Amitabh Bachchan(Ashwathamma), Kamal Haasan(Supreme Yaskin) and Disha Patani(Roxie) among others.
The film is a visual spectacle with its special effects and stunning cinematography that very smoothly transports the audience back and forth from ancient past into a futuristic world building context for even audience unfamiliar with the Hindu mythology. The production design is top-notch, creating a believable and immersive environment that contributes to the narrative of the film. The use of advanced CGI technology is evident and yet it seamlessly blends with the live-action sequences making for an interesting viewing experience. Nag Ashwin's direction is commendable as he balances the film's grand scale with its intimate character moments giving them depth enough for audience to understand.
The screenplay is well-crafted with a narrative that keeps the audience engaged throughout the film. The film's pacing is brisk with a good mix of grandeur, action, drama and emotional scenes. The dialogues are impactful and the storyline is rich with themes of hope, resilience and redemption. The soundtrack, composed by Santosh Narayanan, complements the film's tone. The music enhances the emotional beats of the story and adds to the overall cinematic experience. The background score is particularly noteworthy, heightening the tension and excitement during key scenes. The film was released in six languages- Telugu, Hindi, Malyalam, Tamil, Kannada and English.
This is not the first time a Tollywood film is being celebrated at such a large scale. Telugu cinema has always been known for its commercial approach towards films. Their larger than life storylines and ability to cater to both mass and class audience has helped the industry grow the way it did. Be it Bahubali's path breaking visuals, Oscar winning RRR's Natu Natu, Sitharamam's heart warming plot or Pushpa's rustic storyline, Tollywood cinema has continued to appeal to audience all across India. It has not only brought audience together but also great collaborative projects between the artists' across Bollywood and Tollywood. While the collaborative projects did experience some hiccups like the failure of Liger and Radhe Shyam, the audience still seems open for more such movies. Names like S.S Rajamouli, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandhanna among others which were once regional specific in the Telugu speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have now become national icons.
While the charm of these actors undoubtedly appeals to the masses, it is not just that. This surge of Tollywood can be attributed to the industry’s focus on high-quality production values. The filmmaker's have invested heavily on technology and equipment and the result reflects on screen through the high quality visual affects and sound design. The new-age film makers of the Telugu film industry have consistently brought their great visions to life and attracted more and more eyes towards the industry. The audience has grown from regional to national and now even international. This has transitioned well also due to OTT and digital platforms making regional cinema easily available worldwide. Some fans also attribute this success to some exceptional dubbing artists like Sharad Kelkar (for Bahubali) for breaking the barrier of language and brining these stories to non-telugu speaking fans. All these factors have not only facilitated the industry to reach global audience but even some International Film Festivals.
With Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas and the entire team have delivered a masterpiece that will be remembered for years to come. The film has not only contributed to Tollywood's growth but also paved way for Indian mythology driven sci-fi. Audience is already eager for the next part to come out. It is being estimated to release around June 2025. Until then, the Telugu cinema audience can channel their anticipation towards another much loved film- Pushpa's sequel, Pushpa 2: The rule, which has been announced to release on 6th December 2024. As for Kalki, it is a must-watch for fans of science fiction and epic storytelling and it further cements Tollywood's place in the global cinematic landscape. It will be interesting to see what more Tollywood has in store for coming years.
