Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, released on June 27, has intrigued audiences with its unique storyline and impressive visuals. Starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, the film explores the lore of Ashwatthama and Kali Yug. In a recent interview with So South, production designer Nitin Zihani Choudary shared some interesting new details about the film and its sequel. Here are five key points:
In Kalki 2898 AD, Kamal Haasan’s character, Supreme Yaskin, rules over a Complex in Kashi, an inverted pyramid filled with resources. Nitin revealed that there are six more Complexes in different parts of the world, including Africa, Europe, and America, each led by its own Yaskin.
While some viewers thought Supreme Yaskin might be Kali, Nitin clarified that Yaskin is not Kali. Instead, Yaskin and the other Yaskins report to Kali. The filmmakers have not decided what Kali will look like yet, suggesting that he might be an abstract figure rather than a physical being.
The film’s ending, where Supreme Yaskin lifts a Brahmastra and recites a poem, has been puzzling. Nitin explained that this scene is meant to show Yaskin as a ‘fallen god,’ with a darker side similar to Krishna. The ending hints at this dual nature.
Supreme Yaskin’s body is shown with glowing cracks and breathing tubes, symbolizing his decay. Nitin described him as ‘old and fragile,’ with his power coming from within despite his deteriorating outside.
In Kalki 2898 AD, the usual roles of positive and negative forces are reversed because of Kali Yug. Instead of gods being in heaven and bad forces underground, powerful negative figures are in heaven while demigods like Ashwatthama are below ground. This change highlights the film’s unique setting.
These insights from Nitin Zihani Choudary offer a clearer view of Kalki 2898 AD and its complex world, setting up excitement for the sequel.
