Filmmaker Nag Ashwin has broken his silence on the criticism surrounding Karna’s portrayal in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. The director responded after social media users questioned the film’s interpretation of the legendary warrior and its climax. Nag Ashwin referred to the Mahabharata and urged viewers to wait until the sequel before judging the complete story.
Social media debate began after ‘Lenin’
The online discussion gained momentum following the theatrical release of Akhil Akkineni’s ‘Lenin’. Among the many reactions to the film, one social media user praised Pramod Panju’s performance as Karna and claimed the character should have been portrayed similarly in Kalki 2898 AD. The same post also criticised Nag Ashwin’s interpretation of Karna and questioned the film’s climax. As the debate gathered pace, Nag Ashwin chose to respond directly.
Director cites the Mahabharata
Replying to the criticism, Nag Ashwin shared an excerpt from Bibek Debroy’s English translation of the Mahabharata. He referred to a passage from the Drona Vadha Parva. Lord Krishna speaks about Karna as he addresses Arjuna in that passage. The filmmaker defended his interpretation by writing, “These are Sree Krishna’s own words to Arjuna in the Drona Vadha Parva. Please read the Mahabharata. I suggest the Bibek Debroy version. Or Google how many times Krishna praised Karna to Arjuna. I have the greatest respect for our history. I know what I’m doing. Wait for Part 2 .”
‘Wait for Part 2’
Apart from defending the film, Nag Ashwin’s response also offered a small tease about the sequel. Although the director did not reveal any plot details, his last sentence ‘Wait for Part 2,’ has heightened the hype for the sequel.
‘Kalki 2’ currently under production
Work on ‘Kalki 2’ is progressing in Hyderabad. The sequel continues the story introduced in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and is expected to focus more on the journeys of Ashwatthama and Karna. The first film featured Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani in lead roles. Reports say that ‘Kalki 2’ is targeting a theatrical release in December 2027 and expectations are sky high.
