Director Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, a sci-fi film with a foundation in Indian mythology. It has made headlines for its stunning visuals and ambitious scope. Drawing audiences to theaters in droves. However, when compared to SS Rajamouli’s epic ‘Baahubali’, another high-budget film from the Telugu film industry, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ seems to fall short in several key areas, particularly in terms of storytelling and emotional impact.
Success Formula of ‘Baahubali’
SS Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’ is celebrated for its rich drama and deep emotional resonance. The film’s narrative taps into fundamental human emotions—love, betrayal, friendship, and sacrifice—which makes it universally appealing. Rajamouli himself has emphasized the importance of basic, strong emotions in filmmaking. Noting that these are what connect with audiences on a profound level. This emotional depth, combined with grandiose action and cliffhanger moments (like Kattappa’s shocking betrayal), kept audiences captivated and eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Comparing Kalki 2898 AD & Baahubali
Despite its impressive box office performance, grossing Rs 500 crore in its opening weekend, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ faces criticism for its narrative flaws. While the film boasts a massive budget, a potential-filled story, and a star-studded cast, it struggles with coherence and emotional depth.
Lack of Drama: Unlike ‘Baahubali’, Kalki fails to engage viewers with its drama. The film contains numerous subplots that feel familiar. And repetitive rather than innovative, diluting the overall impact.
Incoherent Screenplay: The screenplay of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is seen as disjointed, with subplots that are not fully developed. But are instead stretched unnecessarily in the name of world-building. This leads to a narrative that feels both fragmented and prolonged.
Overextended Action Sequences: While the action scenes, such as Prabhas’s introduction and the encounters between Amitabh Bachchan’s Ashwattama and Prabhas’s Bhairava, are visually spectacular, they are often excessively lengthy. These sequences, though impressive, sometimes overshadow the story and leave key plot points unresolved.
Abrupt Ending: Kalki concludes on a note that feels more abrupt than intriguing. Unlike ‘Baahubali’, which ended with a gripping cliffhanger that left audiences eagerly awaiting answers.
Celebrity Cameos: While these cameos generated excitement and applause, they did not significantly contribute to the storyline, leaving viewers with a sense of missed opportunity.
Future of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’
The shortcomings of the film suggest that, despite its potential and initial success. It lacks the emotional and dramatic depth that made ‘Baahubali’ a monumental hit.
As audiences wait for the sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. The challenge will be to address these narrative issues. And create a story that can resonate on the same emotional level as Rajamouli’s epic. Whether Nag Ashwin‘s next installment can achieve this remains to be seen, but the bar set by ‘Baahubali’ is undeniably high.