Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-packed futuristic Indian mythological sci-fi epic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Kalki 2898 AD
What's the Story?
KALKI 2898 AD follows a dystopian world where Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), the ruler of Complex, has established a totalitarian regime. When SUM-80 (Deepika Padukone), Bhairava (Prabhas), and Ashwathama (Amitabh Bachchan) cross paths, will they be able to change the course of events and learn their greater purpose?
Is It Any Good?
This Indian science-fiction action movie, directed by Nag Ashwin, tries to combine mythology with dystopia and fantasy but delivers poorly when it comes to storytelling. Kalki 2898 AD leaves no stone unturned when it comes to elaborate action sequences, visual effects, and fancy weapons. Yet for its three-hour length, it feels complicated and chaotic. The dystopian setting also reduces the role of the female characters. Padukone's SUM-80 is not given the slightest chance to do anything beyond being tossed between the warring male characters. Both the tyrants and the rebels only seem to value her for her womb and that's not a problem the film seems interested in addressing. While there's some entertainment to be had from the action and fantasy elements, Kalki 2898 AD fails to deliver a rich and complex story with any nuanced characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Kalki 2898 AD. How did it make you feel? Did you find it entertaining or over the top? Do some types of media violence have different impacts than others?
Discuss how the film dealt with themes of forced surrogacy as women are incarcerated and their bodies used for experimentation. Did the film challenge or problematize such practices through SUM-80's representation or was she limited to being a "damsel in distress"?
The film used mythological elements from other Indian stories. What other movies have you seen that use mythology and folklore?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 26, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : August 22, 2024
- Cast : Prabhas , Deepika Padukone , Amitabh Bachchan
- Director : Nag Ashwin
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Prathyangira Cinemas
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 180 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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