Renowned actor Mukesh Khanna, who is best known for his portrayal of Bhishma in BR Chopra’s television series Mahabharat, has expressed his discontent with the latest film 'Kalki 2898 AD'. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film has been enjoying a successful run at the box office, but it has sparked controversy for its interpretation of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
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Khanna, speaking on a YouTube channel, stated that while he appreciated the film's production values, he found certain aspects problematic. He specifically criticized the filmmakers for altering key elements of the Mahabharata, which he finds offensive. "In the film, when Krishna curses Ashwatthama by removing his 'mani', this never happened during the Mahabharata. I want to ask the makers: how could you assume to know more than Vyas Muni, who said that what doesn’t exist here cannot exist elsewhere? It wasn’t Krishna who removed Ashwatthama's 'mani'," Khanna asserted.
Khanna elaborated on his knowledge of the Mahabharata, which he has been reading since childhood. He highlighted a particular incident from the epic where it was Draupadi who instructed that Ashwatthama's 'mani' should be removed after he killed all five of her children. This historical accuracy, according to Khanna, is crucial and should not be tampered with for cinematic purposes.
Moreover, Khanna shared his views on a significant battle between Arjun and Ashwatthama, where both wielded the 'Brahmastra'. He pointed out that only Arjun knew how to reverse the attack, and when Ashwatthama couldn't, he aimed the Brahmastra at Abhimanyu’s wife, who was pregnant. "Krishna protected her for nine months. I am telling this story in such detail because I don't understand how Krishna could command Ashwatthama to protect him in the future in Kalki? How can someone as powerful as Krishna ask someone like Ashwatthama to protect him?" Khanna questioned.
Khanna also criticized the filmmakers' decision to change other elements of the Mahabharata. He suggested that the government should establish a special committee with the authority to approve or reject any project with mythological connections at the script stage. He expressed that every Sanatani should be offended by these changes, much like they were after watching Prabhas’ last film, Adipurush. Khanna emphasized the importance of respecting traditions and criticized the liberties taken by filmmakers.
Meanwhile, 'Kalki 2898 AD', starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and others, has collected over Rs 700 crore worldwide in just one week, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Despite its commercial success, the film's creative choices have ignited debates about the representation and interpretation of cultural and religious texts in contemporary cinema.
Khanna's remarks have opened up a broader conversation about the portrayal of mythological stories in films and the balance between creative freedom and cultural sensitivity. As the discussion continues, it remains to be seen how filmmakers will navigate these complex issues in future projects.
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