Kalki Debate: That’s Not Real Question

The debate around the portrayal of Mahabharat’s Karna as a great hero in “Kalki 2898 AD” and the role being played by Prabhas is part of discussions ever since the film's release. Recently, when some netizens blasted director Nag Ashwin regarding the same again, he clarified that “Sri Krishna himself praised Karna” and stated that people should wait till Kalki Part 2 to know the final answer

However, if we look at Kalki closely, that’s not the real question that Hindutva supporters are asking about. Whether Srikrishna himself praised Karna’s greatness or not is not the actual question that’s being posed in the movie. Both Karna and Ashwatthama stood with the villains ‘Kauravas’ and committed atrocities and gave support to ‘Adharma’. That’s the whole story of Mahabharat. However, both these characters, played by Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan, are shown as heroes in the film.

Even though Kalki 2898 AD is a fictional tale, Nag Ashwin showcased real Kurukshetra, and many are wondering why he did such an atrocious portrayal. That’s the real debate Nag Ahswin is not even answering. That’s the question he has comfortably ignored. For example, if Ravanasura is shown as a good man, then there’s no point in talking about the Ramayana. A similar thing applies to Karna and Ashwatthama from Mahabharata as well.

All said and done, filmmakers have creative liberty to make or carve whatever they believe or interpret, but at the same time, they should not hurt the sentiments of millions of people, too.