Kalki 2898 AD: Amitabh Bachchan, Nag Ashwin decode Ashwathama — the underrated character in Mahabharata

Indian movie icon Amitabh Bachchan and director Nag Ashwin recently reunited to discuss their latest movie, Kalki 2898 AD, which is currently enjoying a successful run in theatres. During their conversation, Amitabh expressed great interest in understanding Nag Ashwin's thought process behind using Ashwathama, played by Amitabh Bachchan, as a bridge connecting the past and present, spanning 6,000 years in the movie.

Director Nag Ashwin shared his long-standing fascination with the character of Ashwathama, whom he considers one of the most underrated characters in the Mahabharata. “Ashwathama is not evil. He’s actually a very noble warrior, meant to be an avatar of Shiva. His story has always intrigued me," said Ashwin. He explained that Ashwathama's anger was justified in his own way, as he believed his father (Drona) was killed unjustly, making his redemption equally justified.

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Reflecting on a pivotal moment in the Mahabharata, Ashwin noted, “After Ashwathama says ‘kill me now, I’m ready,’ Krishna replies, ‘No, death is not a punishment.’ And then we have a wide shot of the battlefield with hundreds and thousands of people dead. Even while writing it, I felt it had a deeper meaning. Mahabaratha (war) has killed millions of people, but Krishan says 'Death is not a punishment; having to live is your punishment.' I felt there was a whole karmic level to this." 

Ashwin elaborated on Ashwathama’s connection to Shiva, saying, “Drona prayed to Shiva for a son, which resulted in Ashwathama’s birth. In a dramatic moment, when Ashwathama couldn’t get past Krishna’s celestial guardians, he took on Rudhra Roopam and emerged like Shiva.”

Discussing Ashwathama’s relative obscurity, Ashwin remarked, “Ashwathama is not the most popular Mahabharata character. We are usually more familiar with the main ones. However, he was capable of destroying the Pandava army multiple times, if not for Krishna.”

With Kalki 2898 AD, Ashwin aims to bring attention to this complex and fascinating character, bridging ancient mythology with modern storytelling.

The first part of Kalki 2898 AD has grossed more than Rs 1000 crore, creating a lot of anticipation for part 2. 

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