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Nag Ashwin on Kalki, Creativity, and the Future of Cinema
Acclaimed filmmaker Nag Ashwin, who recently delivered a box office triumph with Kalki 2898 AD starring Prabhas, continues to garner attention not only for his cinematic brilliance but also for his humility and grounded nature. Having started his journey in the film industry as an associate to director Sekhar Kammula, Ashwin made his directorial debut with Yevade Subrahmanyam. He rose to national prominence with the critically acclaimed biopic Mahanati, and has now firmly established himself as a successful pan-India director with Kalki 2898 AD Part 1.
In a recent interaction with college students, Nag Ashwin offered rare insights into his creative process, personal aspirations, and his views on evolving filmmaking technologies. When asked if there was a film he wished he had directed, Ashwin responded thoughtfully, “I always wished that it would be cool if I was the editor on Khaleja, and maybe Dear Comrade.” He has previously expressed admiration for Khaleja, calling it his favorite film. Despite their initial box office performance, both Khaleja and Dear Comrade went on to achieve cult status among audiences.
Speaking about the monumental effort behind Kalki, Ashwin emphasized the importance of meticulous planning and strong writing. “If you want to expand Kalki into a zig-zag puzzle mode and solve it, every scene has months and years of effort and planning that went into it. The writing is the core and the film did so well because of it,” he noted.
Touching upon the creative overlaps that occur in the industry, Ashwin shared an anecdote about working on a memory-based concept in 2008 that bore resemblance to Christopher Nolan’s Inception, highlighting how such coincidences are common in the creative world.
A recent viral video of the director driving a Maruti 800—famously featured in Jathi Ratnalu—sparked curiosity among fans. Clarifying the incident, Ashwin said, “There is nothing as such. I have the car and it has the charge. Someone from the other vehicle captured me on a video. That’s all.”
He also shared his perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in cinema, noting its growing influence. “When we worked on Kalki, there were some AI tools already available. But now, it is a different ball game. Already, people are making trailers with AI. But the point is that it still needs a mind to give a direction,” Ashwin remarked.
As Nag Ashwin continues to push the boundaries of Indian cinema with visionary storytelling and technical innovation, his grounded approach and philosophical outlook continue to inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
