Renowned spiritual preacher Garikapati Narasimha Rao has voiced strong criticism against the recently released blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD, expressing his dissatisfaction with the film’s portrayal of historical figures. He specifically condemned the film for its emphasis on elevating the characters of Karna and Aswathama.
In the film, Prabhas stars as Karna while Amitabh Bachchan takes on the role of Aswathama, both drawn from the Indian epic Mahabharata. Garikapati raised concerns over how the film presents these characters as being more significant than Lord Krishna and Arjuna. He pointed out that, according to the epic, Aswathama never relied on Karna; rather, it was Aswathama who assisted Karna on multiple occasions. The reversal of this dynamic in the film did not sit well with him.
Garikapati criticized filmmakers for not adhering to historical facts, claiming they often craft dialogues that suit their narrative convenience. It remains to be seen how the creators of Kalki 2898 AD will respond to this backlash.
Despite the controversy, Kalki 2898 AD has made a significant impact at the box office, grossing over 1000 crores worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of the year. A sequel is already in the works, with a projected release in 2028.