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- By Ridhi Suri
- Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:29 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nag Ashwin's dystopian sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Prabhas has been receiving widespread acclaim from audience and critics. While the film has crossed the ₹500 crore mark in India, it has drawn comparisons to the Harry Potter franchise. Now, the director has clarified that Harry Potter was not an inspiration for the film. Instead there afre two other Hollywood that he mentioned which served as his inspiration.
Kalki 2898 AD blends the elements of the Hindu epic Mahabharata with science fiction. Set in the dystopian future of 2898 AD, the story follows a group's mission to protect the unborn child, Kalki, from SUM-80, an experimental subject. In the year 2898 AD, in a dystopian world ruled by Supreme Yaskin from a hovering megastructure above Kasi.The story revolves around the prophecy of Kalki, whose arrival threatens the totalitarian regime. Rebels from Shambhala, led by Raia and aided by the immortal Ashwatthama, strive to protect SUM-80, a subject of Project K carrying Kalki, from relentless pursuit. The conflict escalates as alliances shift and battles unfold, culminating in a dramatic struggle for freedom and redemption.
Talking about inspiration behind the film, Nag Ashwin said, "We grew up watching Marvel films. I would say Guardians of the Galaxy was more of an influence than Iron Man. Definitely, Star Wars is a huge influence. I love Star Wars, so that is subconsciously a part of my aesthetic." Adding that the character Luke, played by Harshith Reddy, was inspired by the popular Star Wars character, Luke Skywalker. However, he clarified that Harry Potter did not serve as an inspiration for the film, including Kamal Haasan's portrayal of Supreme Yaskin.
"Our references were these old Tibetan monks, who are supposed to be 120-130 years old. Kamal Haasan was always mentioning the portrait of Dorian Grey (from Oscar Wilde's 1890 philosophical novel The Picture of Dorian Grey). That was sir's inspiration. We didn't have many movie references for that ancient look," Nag told Zoom. He mentioned that perhaps the only Harry Potter reference was Vinay Kumar's character Sirius, taken from popular Harry Potter character Sirius Black, played by Gary Oldman.
Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD has surpassed the Rs 800 crore mark in global box office earnings, with Rs 500 crore earned domestically. This mythological and sci-fi action drama, touted as India's most expensive film with a reported budget of ₹600 crore, released worldwide on June 27 in six languages.
