The internet has been abuzz since the release of the trailer for Nag Ashwin’s dystopian epic, Kalki 2898 AD. The film has drawn comparisons to Hollywood classics like Dune and Mad Max: Fury Road. However, it’s now mired in controversy for all the wrong reasons.
Renowned South Korean artist Sung Choi, noted for his collaborations with Marvel Studios, Disney, Warner Bros, and Netflix Animation, has accused the creators of Kalki 2898 AD of plagiarizing his artwork.
Choi expressed his frustration on social media, sharing a screenshot from the film’s opening scene alongside his original piece, created a decade ago.
“Unauthorized use of artwork is a bad practice. This makes me question doing art in this lawless environment. @Kalki2898AD @VyjayanthiFilms #kalki2898ad,” he wrote, tagging the film’s official handles.
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Support for Choi has flooded social media, with users criticizing the film’s team and voicing their disappointment.
Comments ranged from encouragements to pursue legal action to comparisons with other popular works. One user remarked, “I hope you pursue legal action if possible. This is awful,” while another noted, “The trailer gives off vibes from Epoch, Mad Max, Dune, and the Saga comic book series. Many designs seem ripped off from Halo and Death Stranding too. How can the concept designers stay silent?”
The controversy has spilled over onto Reddit, where users are urging Choi to take legal action against the filmmakers. These accusations have cast a shadow over one of the year’s most anticipated sci-fi releases, featuring stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani.
Kalki 2898 AD copied this from artist Sung Choi. He’s calling them out now.
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Not everyone blames director Nag Ashwin. Some defend him, suggesting, “Do you think Nag Ashwin knows how his VFX team got this image? He merely describes the scene and the ‘experts’ deliver the end product. Nag Ashwin is a decent person – let’s not assume anything.” Despite these defenses, the film’s team has yet to officially respond to the allegations.
As this drama unfolds, fans and critics alike are left wondering how this high-stakes saga will resolve. Will the makers of Kalki 2898 AD address the claims directly, or will this controversy overshadow the film’s release? Stay tuned for updates from both the film’s team and the art world.
