Nag Ashwin Reflects On Filmmaking, Inspirations, And The Future of Cinema

Nag Ashwin, who scored a huge success with Kalki 2898 AD is known not just for his visionary filmmaking but also for his humble nature.

He started his journey in cinema as an assistant to Sekhar Kammula and made his directorial debut with Yevade Subramanyam. He shot to fame with Mahanati and now with Kalki, he has become one of India’s top directors.

Recently, he interacted with college students and spoke about the making of Kalki, sharing insights into his creative journey. He mentioned that every scene in Kalki involved months or even years of effort and that strong writing was the backbone of the film’s success.

When asked which film he wished to have directed, he said he would have loved to be the editor for Khaleja and maybe Dear Comrade, two films he admires that gained popularity later despite initial box office failure.

Ashwin also shared how filmmakers often find similar ideas appearing elsewhere, mentioning that in 2008 he wrote about memories, similar to Inception. On AI, he noted that while it’s evolving fast, creative direction still needs a human touch.

శర్వానంద్ తో కలిసి ఇప్పటివరకు పని చేయలేదు కానీ.. త్వరలో చేయాలని ఉంది – తమన్నా#TamannahBhatia #Odela2 #SampathNandi pic.twitter.com/Yq8o34JtWh

— Filmy Focus (@FilmyFocus) April 14, 2025