The clock is ticking as the hotly anticipated Indian tent-poleKalki 2898 ADnears its release date. Touted as themost expensive Indian film ever made— the movie is said to have been produced on a reported budget of $75 million —Kalki 2898 ADstarsPrabhas, best known for leading the two-part Baahubali blockbusters, directed byRRR’sS.S. Rajamouli. Described as a “mythological science-fiction” spectacle, the moviewill debut its first trailer on June 10. The trailer release date was announced on Tuesday, alongside a brand-new poster that provides a closer look at the elaborate world that has been crafted for the film.
The new poster featuresPrabhas’ character, theMahabharata-inspiredBhairava, standing heroically on a mound of sand, with a futuristic-looking monolith hovering in the sky behind him. We also get a glimpse of an apocalyptic landscape, and a settlement of sorts in the background.Bhairava is said to be a bounty hunter, who works alongside an AI-powered assistant named Bujji. The recently released trailer foran animated prequel seriesrevealed that they operate in a retro-futuristic city that looks an awful lot like the Los Angeles ofBlade Runner, or any number ofcyberpunk towns seen in movies and video games, albeit surrounded by a vast desert.
The new poster also teases the film’s color palate and broad visual aesthetic, which owes a debt toDenis Villeneuve’s two Dune movies, and combines elements of Hindu mythology with cutting-edge sci-fi. Glimpses ofKalki 2898 ADwere previously shared viapostersand teasers. Directed byNag Ashwin, the movie has long been awaited by the fans of Prabhas, who haven’t exactly had much reason to celebrate in the years since his ascent to superstardom. In the six years following the release of the second Baahubali film,Prabhas has starred in a handful ofbig-budget bombs, and has delivered just one box office hit, last year’sSalaar: Part 1 — Ceasefire.
He’ll be joined inKalki 2898 ADby major talent such asDeepika Padukone,Amitabh Bachchan, andKamal Haasan. India, for those who might not know, is divided into several regional film industries that operate mostly independently of each other. The goal withKalki 2898 ADis to not only unite the entire nation’s audiences, but to alsosell the film to international crowds. The appetite for mainstream Indian films is arguably at an all-time high following the crossover success ofRRRa couple of years ago, and the folks behindKalki 2898 ADtried to capitalize on it byholding a grand session at the San Diego Comic Conlast year. Themovie is set for release on June 27in multiple languages across the world. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Kalki 2898 AD
In a dystopian future, society is on the brink of collapse, ruled by corrupt powers exploiting technology and religion. A mysterious figure emerges, believed by some to be the prophesized warrior destined to overthrow the tyrants and restore balance. As he gathers followers, his quest becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed, challenging the very fabric of the corrupt regime.
