Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, has taken the box office by storm with a historic opening day. This dystopian sci-fi spectacle, released midweek on a Thursday, defied all expectations and set a new benchmark in Indian cinema. Despite competing with the #INDvsENG2024 semi-final match, Kalki 2898 AD embarked on a fantastic start, becoming the biggest opener of 2024 for the Hindi version alone.
Massive First-Day Collections
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Kalki 2898 AD grossed a staggering ₹95 crore nett on its opening day across all languages in India, with a global collection of ₹191.5 crore reported by Vyjayanthi Movies. The Telugu version led the charge with ₹64.5 crore nett, followed by ₹24 crore in Hindi, ₹4 crore in Tamil, ₹2.2 crore in Malayalam, and ₹30 lakh in Kannada. These figures have surpassed the previous record held by Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which collected ₹75 crore on its first day. With an impressive 85.15 percent Telugu occupancy, the film’s performance has been phenomenal across various regions, including Tier-2 and Tier-3 centers.
Globally, the film has grossed ₹191.5 crore, making it one of the most successful launches in Indian cinematic history.
Reviews and Audience Reception
Critics and audiences alike have praised Kalki 2898 AD for its visual grandeur and compelling narrative. The Hindustan Times lauded the film as “a visual spectacle by all means,” highlighting its world-class VFX and grand scale.
Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama gave the film a 4-star rating, emphasizing its substance, style, and fantastic second half. He praised Prabhas’s performance, calling it electrifying, and noted the remarkable contributions of Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan. Adarsh described the action sequences and the film’s stunning VFX as mind-boggling, while also mentioning some shortcomings in the soundtrack and the pacing of the first hour. However, he concluded that the outstanding second hour compensates for these minor flaws, making Kalki 2898 AD a must-watch.
Also read: Deepika Padukone & Cinematic Universes in India: A New Era of Indian Cinema
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
Kalki 2898 AD‘s historic opening day is not just a testament to the film’s quality but also signals a significant shift in Indian cinema. The film’s success demonstrates the audience’s appetite for grand, ambitious projects with interconnected storytelling, similar to global franchises. As the film continues its run, it is expected to maintain strong momentum through the weekend, potentially setting new records for first-weekend collections.
Producer Swapna Dutt shared her thoughts on social media, emphasizing the team’s passion for cinema: “We never make films for the records. We make it for the audience. We make for the love of cinema. We did the same.”
The Cults Bay Concludes
Looking ahead, the film is poised to maintain its strong box office momentum through the weekend, further solidifying its place in cinematic history. The remarkable start of Kalki 2898 AD not only elevates the careers of its cast and crew but also sets a new standard for future Indian films aiming to compete on a global scale. The journey of Kalki 2898 AD is just beginning, and its continued success will undoubtedly inspire more innovative and expansive storytelling in Indian cinema.
