Kalki 2898 AD has a non-linear timeline that begins during the period of the Mahabharata and then skits between eras to finally conclude in the dystopian future of 2898 AD. Speaking about his film, which stars Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Hasaan, director Nag Ashwin has said: “Our film starts in Mahabharata and it ends in 2898. It spans 6,000 years of distance and time. So, trying to create worlds that are there here, imagining what it could be like, still keeping it Indian and not making it look like a Blade Runner,” Hindustan Times reports.

There was a ton of hype surrounding the release of Kalki 2898 AD, which was released in theatres on 27 June. The star cast, from across film industries, is naturally the movie’s greatest draw, but so is its Orwellian storyline which features a dystopian and post-catastrophic world where the river Ganga has dried up, leading to a scarcity of basic resources, and only a single city, Kasi, remains. While a majority of the residents struggle to survive, the rich continue to rule from within the walled gates of The Complex, a massive mega-city structure in the shape of an inverted pyramid that towers over Kasi. The only chance of saving one section of mankind from the other lies with Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu, who descends upon the earth to secure justice and order.

Going by trailer alone, one can expect a blend of action, humour and the ultimate war of good vs evil taking place among the grimy backdrop of the ruins of the city. In short, it is the true definition of a dystopian film. If you enjoyed Kalki 2898 AD and are looking for more dystopian flicks like it — we’ve got you covered.

Liked watching Kalki 2898 AD? You'll also love these 7 dystopian films on Netflix and Amazon Prime that will blow your mind and make you question reality itself

1. Dune (2021) — Netflix