South Korean Artist Accuses Makers Of Kalki 2898 AD Of Plagiarism

Kalki 2898 AD, Nag Ashwin’s upcoming dystopian movie, has caused a buzz in the virtual world with discussions about its striking similarities to Hollywood classics like Dune and Mad Max: Fury Road. Recently, these comparisons took a serious turn when South Korean artist Sung Choi accused the makers of plagiarism. Choi, who has an impressive portfolio including work for Marvel Studios, Disney, Warner Bros., and Netflix Animation, took to social media to voice his allegations.

South Korean Artist Accuses Makers of Kalki 2898 AD of Plagiarism

Sung Choi’s accusation centres around the opening scene of the Kalki 2898 AD trailer, which depicts a dystopian cityscape. Choi claims that this scene is a direct copy of his artwork, which he published a decade ago. To substantiate his claim, he shared a screenshot from the trailer alongside his original work, highlighting the undeniable similarities.

Choi, a renowned concept illustrator and designer, called out Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind Kalki 2898 AD, for allegedly using his artwork without permission. He expressed his frustration in a social media post, stating, "Unauthorised use of the artwork is a bad practice. This makes me question doing art in this lawless environment. @Kalki2898AD @VyjayanthiFilms #kalki2898ad."

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A post shared by Sung Choi (@sungchoiart)

Social Media Reaction

Following Choi's post, social media users rallied in his support, condemning the film's team for the alleged plagiarism. Fans and followers of Choi, as well as members of the artistic community, expressed their disappointment and demanded accountability from the filmmakers.

One user wrote, "I’ve seen the trailer the whole film looks like a ripoff of “Dune‘s” aesthetics and then adding the Hindu mythological theme of 10th reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. What’s sad is I saw posts of concept artist with amazing portfolios working on this project." Another user wrote, "This is totally shame on them, the most sad thing is this is the intro shot of the production house."

Another comment read, "@sungchoiart I am pretty sure that a lot of scenes will be one to one coy of artstation artworks without credits . Shameful that with such a bucket they can’t come up with something original."

The controversy has cast a shadow over the much-anticipated sci-fi film, which stars big names like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani. Despite the growing backlash, the film's team has yet to respond to the plagiarism allegations.

About Kalki 2898 AD

Kalki 2898 AD transports viewers to a dystopian future where humans struggle to survive in the city of Kashi. The narrative unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world set in the year 2898 AD. Citizens and scientists in Kashi await a miraculous incarnation to save them, while the legendary Ashwathama from the Mahabharata emerges from decades of hiding.

The film, directed by Nag Ashwin, promises a gripping tale of survival and hope against a bleak and desolate backdrop. It is slated for release on June 27, with fans eagerly awaiting its debut on the big screen.