Even two years after its release, Kalki 2898 AD continues to generate debate on social media. The latest discussion began after a social media user praised Akhil Akkineni’s latest film Lenin, claiming its director had portrayed Karna as a “pure evil” character in a way that was more faithful to the Mahabharata. He then accused director Nag Ashwin of whitewashing Karna and hurting Hindu sentiments by presenting him in a heroic light.
Nag Ashwin didn’t ignore the backlash. Responding to the user, he said people should read the Mahabharata carefully and even recommended Bibek Debroy’s translation, suggesting that his interpretation of Karna is rooted in the epic itself.
His response seems to have backfired a bit, with many users challenging his interpretation and debating whether Kalki selectively highlighted Karna’s virtues while overlooking many of his evil actions.
A social media user argued that Nag Ashwin had already made his creative preference clear through the way he cast the film. That’s why he cast a hero of lesser stature like Vijay Deverakonda as Arjuna opposite Prabhas as Karna. It automatically makes Karna appear stronger and Arjuna comparatively weaker on screen.
Many social media users now believe Kalki is influencing how an entire generation views Mahabharata characters. One complaint that repeatedly surfaces on social media is that Kalki’s climax created a perception of “Karna > Arjuna,” especially among Gen Z audiences who may not be familiar with the original mythology.
Others argue that once a filmmaker chooses to tell a fictional story inspired by mythology, creative liberty is perfectly acceptable. But they also feel that unnecessary controversies can be avoided by not quoting verses from the Mahabharata to defend fictional changes. Instead, they believe filmmakers should simply accept that it is a creative interpretation and tell the story their own way.
Ironically, there was hardly any controversy before Kalki 2898 AD was released. Most of the outrage emerged only after audiences witnessed the climax reveal. This time, however, the debate has started nearly two years before the sequel’s release. That means every teaser, trailer, dialogue, or character reveal involving Karna is likely to be dissected frame by frame.
The good news for Nag Ashwin is that he still has time. So, he can plan how to reduce the negativity surrounding his film. Though he can’t change the casting now, with Vijay Deverakonda and Prabhas already locked in as Arjuna and Karna, he can at least ensure that Arjuna never appears weaker than Karna in the sequel. Also, if Karna is presented with greater nuance and context, much of the current backlash might settle down, at least to some extent.
For Kalki 2, the biggest battle may not be at the box office. It could be winning the argument over Karna.
