Religion and science fiction in contemporary India: A study of entanglements and materiality of religion in Indian Science Fictional film, Kalki 2898 (2024)

Drawing from the ancient Hindu epic The Mahabharata, Kalki 2898 AD (2024), reimagines elements of the grand narrative in a futuristic wasteland while setting out to explore questions of belief and faith, of the messiah and the messianic, of authority and godhood, of climate driven apocalypse and eschatology, of sin, guilt and redemption. What is more interesting,is how the movie,a significant pop-cultural product,serves as a material manifestation of specific religion while excluding specific ones, helping in formation of modified categories of the religion and ultimately aiding in its contemporary circulation.This paper will attempt to unravel the entanglement between religion and science fiction in Kalki 2898, by drawing from the framework of the possible avenues of interaction (Thrall 2024) and the methodology of religious materiality (Chidester 2018). While Thrall provides a succinct guideline to interpret the interactions, Chidester arguments about materiality help locate the findings in real world religious manifestation.