The Telugu blockbuster 'Kalki 2898 AD', which hit theatres last week, is on its way to rewriting Indian box office history. While it is being praised for its visual spectacle and mind-blowing Hollywood-style VFX, one cannot deny that the Nag Ashwin directorial has taken a step towards emerging as a true pan-India film. Hit filmmaker S.
S. Rajamouli was instrumental in redesigning the concept of pan-Indian films into what it is today, building on the foundation laid by the films of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan. However, with 'Kalki', featuring 'Baahubali' star Prabhas in the lead, the concept has gained a refined and complete form.
Not only have the makers marketed the film in multiple languages, but they have also brought together top actors from various industries under one banner, something that Rajamouli partly achieved with the Telugu movie 'RRR', which featured Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn. The storyline, with its references to the Mahabharata, also adds to its pan-Indian appeal. Malayalam actor Anna Ben and veteran star Shobana's presence in the film has impressed Malayali fans.
Though Shobana has acted in a couple of Telugu movies, her appearance in 'Kalki' came as a pleasant surprise, as her last Tollywood film was Ramprasad G's directorial 'Game' in 2006. Anna Ben, known for her groundbreaking roles in Malayalam cinema, has made her foray into Telugu with 'Kalki', playing the peppy character Kyra, a rebel from Shambala, a secret city. The actor is winning praise for her.