Kalki 2898 AD has opened up to a tremendous response worldwide breaking many records from the first day itself. It is quite evident that the story has been inspired by Mahabharata with its central character Ashwatthama representing the Dwapar Yug. But Nag Ashwin has also managed to give it a futuristic touch using all the latest VFX technology making it a spectacular, larger-than-life extravaganza.
Until the part where Krishna comes and curses Ashwatthama for attacking Uttara, everything is very well known and written in Mahabharata. But Kalki 2898 AD goes a step further and shows how this legendary immortal character will play a huge role in protecting the unborn Kalki and ensuring that he is born amid all odds and destroys evil. Eventually, it will lead to the start of Satya Yug once again on the earth.
Did Nag Ashwin pick a reference from an Odia book for Kalki 2898 AD?
The reference that Ashwatthama will fight to save Kalki along with Vibishan and Hanuman has been mentioned in the book Bhavishya Malika Puran originally written in Odia by Achyutananda Das and Panchsakha. The book which was written on Palm Leaves initially narrates the final torture the people from Kali Yuga will have to face which will include social unrest, natural disaster, and spiritual decline.
The book has been divided into three distinct parts which include Kaliyuga ka ant (End of Kaliyuga), Mahavinash (great destruction and finally Aadya Satya Yug Ka Aagman (coming of Satya yug). In Kalki 2898 AD humanity is on the verge of decline both spiritually and morally, and it is Ashwatthama who comes to the forefront to save the mother of Kalki and the unborn child.
So this big reference which has given a new dynamic to the story of Kalki 2898 AD seems to have been inspired by Bhavishya Malika Puran which has predicted some of the most astonishing facts. Interestingly, most of these facts have come true.