Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha,

Bolly Spice
:

…In spite of an incoherent first-half Kalki leaves us with a deep impression, largely for the way Amitabh Bachchan’s Ashwathama has been projected. Kamal Haasan’s creepy part as some kind of evil messiah, lasts for barely ten minutes. His prosthetics are so elaborate it is hard to tell whether the actors are active or just the makeup….

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Thumbs up,
by Smrity Sharma,

Bollywood Life
:

…There are some unexpected cameos in the first half and more lined up in the second half as well. However, despite such a cast and character heavy narrative, everyone seems to have their well deserved space in the storyline, even the AI assistance Bujji….

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Thumbs up,
by Taher Ahmed,

Deccan Herald
:

…This mega starrer begins slowly but picks up the pace towards the end, with the promise of an even better sequel….

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Thumbs up,
by Abhimanyu Mathur,

DNA
:

…But Kalki is more than just the visuals. Nag Ashwin’s beautiful marriage of mythology, dystopia, science-fiction, and world-building is what sets it apart from other films….

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Thumbs up,
by Sagar Tetali,

Film Companion
:

…- [ ] The marriage of mythology and science-fiction shouldn’t work as well as it does, but the attention to detail in crafting a world where the two can meet makes it work. Endure its flaws, make sure you watch it in 2D, and there’s a lot of fun to be had…

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Thumbs up,
by Devesh Sharma,

Filmfare
:

…Watch the film for of its VFX wizardry, impeccable acting by the entire cast and the confrontation scenes between Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas….

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Thumbs up,
by Murtuza Iqbal,

Filmi Beat
:

…Overall, Kalki 2898 AD is a visually grand film, narrated wonderfully by Nag Ashwin. Amitabh Bachchan is simply excellent, and other actors also leave a mark. So, it is surely A Must Watch…

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Thumbs up,
by “Sai Tulasi Neppali “,

fullhyd.com
:

…Kalki 2898 AD arguably pushes the boundaries of the “pan-India film” label to its farthest extent. But it many ways, Nag’s ambitious project, and the most expensive Indian film made yet, wants to be seen as not just pan-Indian, but trans-India….

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Thumbs up,
by Neeshita Nyayapati,

Hindustan Times
:

…Kalki 2898 AD might not be flawless, but it’s gutsy and intriguing enough to be watched on-screen. Nag has always excelled at human emotion (Yevade Subramanyam, Mahanati), and this film works because of that. As fun as it is to see a superhero-style sci-fi film from Telugu cinema to pushes the boundaries of what can be done, it works because you care about some of these characters. Here’s hoping the sequel is even bigger and better….

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Thumbs up,

india today
:

…Composer Santhosh Narayanan, with his background music, gave life to the music. The elevation scenes featuring Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan turned out to be epic because of his score….

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Thumbs up,
by Sakshi Verma,

India TV
:

…Kalki 2898 AD is a pure build-up for what’s coming next in the sequel. The film is purely fictional but makes you believe that it is reality. Its larger-than-life spectacle transports you to Kashi, Complex and Shambala. The choice of actors and their perfect portrayal make this film a must-watch. Nag Ashwin’s concepts are of good level and spark imaginative experiences. However, the msuci of Kalki 2898 AD is another underwelming part of this film. But Nag Ashwin directorial’s epic battles, clap-worthy VFX, high points and surprise elements clearly deserve four stars. If you are a fan of action and sci-fi films, Kalki 2898 AD is just the one for you….

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Thumbs up,
by Divya Shah,

India-Forums
:

…Kalki 2898 AD is an ambitious film that pushes the boundaries of Indian cinema. While it has its flaws, particularly in the first half, it more than makes up for……

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Thumbs up,

indiaglitz
:

…Verdict: Kalki 2898 AD a slow build with visually stunning and emotionally powerful journey but culminates in an explosive finale….

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Thumbs up,
by “Shalmesh More “,

koimoi
:

…On the whole, Kalki 2898 AD has a share of both positives and negatives, but the good thing is that positives are overpowering the downers. The craving to watch a visually stunning film, a brave attempt to create something unique, and a show-stealing performance by Amitabh Bachchan will help the film put on a solid show at the Indian box office….

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Thumbs up,
by Sameer Ahire,

Movie Talkies
:

…Kalki 2898 AD had no scope for music, and whatever music we have is pretty dull. It was a total waste of time. What makes this film slow? The songs, the editing, the melodramatic score, and the outdated execution. It wasn’t necessary to stretch the film for 3 hours; I mean, it could have easily been trimmed by 30 minutes,…

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Thumbs up,
by Dishya Sharma,

News18.com
:

…Even the writing of the first half lacked the punch. It is boring and confusing but wait for the second half of the film. The film develops post-interval and starts to fall into place. You finally begin to understand what was happening in the first half and the plot becomes clear. It then plays on the intriguing factor and makes you wonder, ‘What will happen next?’ It combines action with visual spectacle and mythology with technology and science – which makes the film worth watching….

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Thumbs up,
by Gouthams,

Pinkvilla
:

…The movie Kalki 2898 AD is just the beginning of a cinematic universe that has the potential to become the greatest experience in Indian cinema. With each character serving their own purposes, the film successfully connects the world of sci-fi and myth under a single umbrella….

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Thumbs up,
by Sukanya Verma,

Rediff
:

…Kalki 2898 AD’s spectacle set in a timeline far, far away is just the beginning of a franchise that’s got a whole lot of dramatic confrontations, spirited battles and mythical madness on its mind….

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Thumbs up,
by Ronak Kotecha,

Times of India
:

…Kalki 2898 AD’ is undeniably a larger-than-life visual spectacle that transports viewers into a vividly imagined universe. In fact, the film’s visual quality is so high that it overshadows many of its obvious flaws by engaging the audience into the atmospherics of the make-believe world of Kasi and the Complex….

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So-So,
by Rahul Desai,

Film Companion
:

…Every time Kalki 2898 AD got a little dull or tangential, I tried to look at the brighter side. After all, it takes guts for a movie of this magnitude to be just alright in an age of lofty adjectives. Which, if you think about it, is an impressive act of dissent…

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So-So,
by Sruthi Ganapathiy Raman,

Film Companion
:

…In the end, even if the film might be emotionally weak, its dark-horse-shaped Ashwatthama largely redeems its journey for audiences. Bachchan brings depth to this wounded character, making us feel his pain beyond just his wearied face and 8-feet structure….

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So-So,
by Rohit Bhatnagar,

Free Press Journal
:

…Amitabh, Prabhas and Deepika are in their usual best forms. Ashwin uses the star powers quite aptly. But, to like Kalki 2898 AD, you need to be aware of Hindu Mythology, its gods, their motives, why and how Mahabharata happened and so on.

Kalki 2898 AD is a technically potent kids’ film that is enjoyable in parts….

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So-So,
by Baradwaj Rangan,

galatta.com
:

…Bhairava is all technology and holograms, while Ashwathama is all about brute strength and traditional action moves. Kalki is certainly a towering technical achievement, but I wished it had been an emotional achievement as well.. Read more at: https://www.galatta.com/telugu/movie/review/kalki-2898-ad/…

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So-So,
by Shubhra Gupta,

indian express
:

…The only exception is a robot called Bujji (voiced by Keerthy Suresh), fashioned as Bhairava’s cutesy, smart-mouthed side-kick, who induces a smile.
Kalki 2898 AD Movie Review Live Updates: Prabhas-starrer Kalki 2898 AD releases in theatres on June 27 Prabhas-starrer Kalki 2898 AD releases in theatres on June 27.
And yes, this may have Prabhas as the headliner, but it is Amitabh Bachchan all the way: his Ashwatthama is suitably gravelly and epic-like, as he sets about roundly bashing and punching poor Bhairava, in one of the best set-pieces in the film. He towers over the film, both literally and metaphorically, reminding you of the Bachchan of yore, who ‘made the line begin where he stood’. As to Kamal Haasan, he comes on sparingly, and saves his best for the last, but being Kamal Haasan, does leave an impact….

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So-So,
by Lekha Menon,

Khaleej Times
:

…In a nutshell, despite the praise-worthy scale, imagination and ambition, this 6000-year-old tale can be described as sci-fi-meets-mythology-meets-Marvel with comedy, tragedy, emotion, betrayal, mother angle and an item number. Sadly, too many ingredients do spoil the broth….

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So-So,
by Uday Bhatia,

Live Mint
:

…For a Telugu film, the violence is dialled down, an indication that Kalki 2898 AD has a family crowd in mind. Perhaps this and other concessions to gaining the widest possible audience—actors from across India, a litany of cameos, a song by Diljit Dosanjh—will pay off….

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So-So,
by Mayank Shekhar,

MiD DAY
:

…I hope she got half her work-day’s worth, eventually. There is similarly the sequel lined up of Kalki; seemingly with several set-pieces, that are seriously second to none here, already. I’m looking forward to that. You could, to this, surely….

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So-So,
by Saibal Chatterjee,

NDTV
:

…Kalki 2898 AD has the firepower that an aspiring futuristic franchise needs and it harnesses it pretty well. So, for all its flaws, it does not ever careen out of control….

full review

So-So,
by Isha Sharma,

NewsBytes
:

…Far from perfect, but not unwatchable; 3/5 stars
While the film certainly feels naked at times because of the lack of events (it feels like the same sequences repeat), it’s tough not to be impressed by Ashwin’s vision, brought to life by DNEG’s otherwordly visuals.
For all its flaws, however, I would still recommend watching it on the big screen, because this is the best depiction of Mahabharata you’ll ever see.
Done!…

full review

So-So,
by Nandini Ramnath,

Scroll.in
:

…There are cameos for Telugu directors SS Rajamouli and Ram Gopal Varma. Rajamouli’s character has an exchange with Bhairava that is meant as an inside joke about the Baahubali movies, which starred Prabhas. The last thing Kalki 2898 AD needs is a reminder of Rajamouli’s talent for localising Hollywood-style spectacle – borrowing and repurposing, rather than merely borrowing….

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So-So,
by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo,

The Hindu
:

…Kalki’s narrative has several subtexts to decode, long after the film is over. The parallels drawn between Yaskin and Kamsa, the design of the Complex, the surroundings of Yaskin and the flying machine used by Manas. There is a lot to root for. If only it had sidestepped the lacklustre romance and the underwhelming dialogues to make for a more cohesive narrative. Despite these shortcomings, Kalki is a brave new attempt that deserves big cheers….

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So-So,
by SUPARNA SHARMA,

The Week
:

…Watch Kalki 2898 AD for the crackling chemistry between Prabhas and Bachchan if you have the patience to sit through its first half….

full review