Director Nag Ashwins long-awaited dystopian sci-fi action film, Kalki 2898 AD, finally revealed its first trailer this Monday, marking a significant milestone for fans eagerly anticipating the movies release. Despite facing several postponements and delays, the film, boasting a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani, is now confirmed to hit theaters on June 27, promising an immersive cinematic experience.Upon viewing the newly released trailer, audiences quickly drew parallels between Kalkis post-apocalyptic setting and iconic Hollywood films such as Dune and Mad Max: Fury Road, citing thematic similarities and visual cues that captured the essence of these renowned works. However, amidst the buzz surrounding the trailer, a controversy emerged as Sung Choi, a notable concept illustrator and designer with credits from Marvel Studios, Disney, and Warner Bros, accused the films production house, Vyjayanthi Movies, of replicating his artwork.Accusations of Artwork Plagiarism Spark Online DebateChoi took to social media to express his displeasure, sharing a side-by-side comparison of his original illustration, published a decade ago on ArtStation, and a frame from Kalki 2898 ADs trailer. He wrote, “Unauthorized use of the artwork is a bad practice. This makes me question doing art in this lawless environment. @Kalki2898AD @VyjayanthiFilms #kalki2898ad,” sparking a heated online debate over intellectual property rights and artistic integrity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sung Choi (@sungchoiart)Netizens Rally Behind Choi, Call for AccountabilitySupport poured in for Choi as netizens condemned the alleged plagiarism, urging him to pursue legal action against Vyjayanthi Movies. Comments on Chois social media posts echoed sentiments of disappointment and outrage, with users expressing concern over the prevalence of such practices in the creative industry. On platforms like Reddit, discussions intensified, with users advocating for accountability and transparency in artistic collaborations within the film industry.Past Controversies in Indian CinemaThis incident is not the first of its kind in the Indian film industry. In 2023, an animation studio, Vaanarsena, accused the makers of Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Saif-Ali Khan, of plagiarizing their work for the films poster. Similarly, actress Lisa Ray previously criticized the makers of Prabhas Saaho for allegedly plagiarizing artwork from artist Shilo Shiv Suleman for a promotional poster.Aiming for Global SuccessDespite these controversies, Kalki 2898 AD remains poised for a global release, aiming to emulate the success of SS Rajamoulis RRR in 2022. With a reported budget of $75 million, the film is positioned as one of Indias most ambitious and expensive productions, promising audiences a visually stunning and immersive cinematic experience anchored by its star-studded ensemble cast.
