Kalki 2898 AD is one of the highly anticipated movies of 2024. Directed by Nag Ashwin, this mythology-inspired sci-fi film features an ensemble cast that includes Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani.

As the movie takes place in a timeline that is 850+ years ahead, the director wanted the vehicles in it to be futuristic, and instead of going for computer-generated imagery (CGI) he wanted authentic ones that are built from the scratch. 

Ashwin requested billionaire Anand Mahindra (Head of Mahindra & Mahindra) to provide technical support to build such type of vehicles. Responding to Ashwin's request, Mr.Mahindra asked his Chief of Global Product Development to aid the director. The team in Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai helped Team Kalki to realise its vision for a futuristic vehicle.

Birth of Bujji

In the movie, Prabhas' character Bhairava drives a beast of a car called Bujji. It is an A.I.-powered car that assists him in his adventures. 

Team Mahindra, Kalki and a Coimbatore-based company called Jayem Automotives worked together to create this car. The car is a huge one in terms of size and power. It weighs nearly 6 tons, runs on 2 Mahindra e-motors that powers the rear giant-spherical wheel set up and has a max.torque of 9800 Nm 

Team Mahindra also helped in simulating the powertrain configuration, architecture and performance. It was all put together by Jayem Automotives.

Recently Bujji was tested in CoASTT High Performance centre in Karumathampatti, Coimbatore, and Auto Car India's Renuka Kirpalani drove the vehicle and said it definitely feels like a glimpse of what the future would look like.

The movie is scheduled to hit the screen on 27th next month. To watch Prabhas and Bujji in action, click here.

^{Photo Credits: Autocar India}