MUMBAI : Indian Cinema has been on an upward spiral since the past decade as far as technically and visually rubbing shoulders with the best in the world goes, especially after the release of Ra. One and Baahubali. With each year, we're reaching new heights courtesy RRR, Bhediya, Brahmastra, Munjya, 2.0, and The Legend of Hanuman. But the common factor among all these is a good plot, good characters, and engagement till the end. So, does Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, uplift our cinema to higher realms. Yes, and then some, with the best VFX till date in an Indian film, backed by a really strong plot, ensuring that Kalki isn't all glitter and no depth.

Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan gel like glue in a perfect dystopian world created by Director Nag Ashwin, who's inspiration from similar futuristic and apocalyptic classics on the big and small screen seems thankfully more like a homage than derivation. This is Mahabharata meets Star Wars meets Mad Max meets Handmaid's Tale meets Transformers meets Naruto in the grandest, most giddily entertaining fashion that demands a big-screen party.

That being said, the core conflict of the plot, where India's ancient scriptures meet Ashwin's vision of Kalki in 2898 A.D., could've been more meticulously planned and more seamlessly merged in the first half. The characters, excluding that of Deepika and Amitabh, needed more depth, too, given the milieu while the action should've had better coordination for the gizmos it's surrounded by. The duration is also an issue, with the movie running at least 20-25 minutes more than required, while the two songs were completely unnecessary.

However, these aren't major hassles in the larger scheme of things, when you're strapped in for a ride on full throttle, centuries into the future. Even the action comes into its own during the climax as does the amalgamation of ancient mythology with its dystopian world, negating the preceding fight choreography roadblocks and slightly jarring plot elements. The background score is also a major book despite the futility of the songs. The performances from everyone pack a punch, with the star cameos being the icing on the cake, while the Djordje Stojiljkovic's, couple switch the CGI, creates a sight to behold.

For its flaws here and there, the biggest takeaway of Kalki 2898 AD is that it well and truly takes Indian Cinema further into the future, against a canvas worth celebrating on the big screen.

3.5/5 stars