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Director Nag Ashwin, who is usually known for staying away from online debates, has finally broken his silence over the criticism surrounding Kalki 2898 AD.

The controversy started after the release of Akhil’s Lenin, with a social media user praising Pramod Panju’s menacing performance and claiming, “This is how Karna should be portrayed on the big screen.” The post soon snowballed into a direct attack on Kalki 2898 AD, with the user accusing Nag Ashwin of glorifying Karna and even calling the film’s climax “blasphemy.”

As the debate intensified, fans and critics took sides. But instead of letting the accusations slide, Nag Ashwin fired back with evidence from the Mahabharata itself.

Sharing a page from Bibek Debroy’s translation, the filmmaker wrote, “These are Sree Krishna’s own words to Arjuna in the Drona Vadha Parva. Please read the Mahabharata. I suggest the Bibek Debroy version. Or Google how many times Krishna praised Karna to Arjuna. I have the greatest respect for our history. I know what I’m doing. Wait for Part 2.”

His response has now reignited the debate online, with netizens dissecting every word. More importantly, his closing line, “Wait for Part 2,” has turned the spotlight back on the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, making fans even more curious to see how he plans to take Karna’s story forward.

Meanwhile, Nag Ashwin recently backed Sing Geetham, directed by legendary filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao.