Hollywood Artist Accuses 'Kalki 2898 AD' Producers of Plagiarism: Inside the Controversy

Renowned Hollywood concept artist Oliver Beck has ignited a controversy with accusations of plagiarism against the producers of the highly anticipated sci-fi film 'Kalki 2898 AD'. Beck, known for his pioneering work in conceptual art for major productions, including 'Star Trek', took to social media to express his dismay over alleged unauthorized use of his artwork in the film's promotional materials.

On his Twitter account, which has since been a platform for artists and creators alike, Beck posted side-by-side comparisons of his original matte paintings and scenes from the 'Kalki 2898 AD' trailer. In a poignant tweet, he lamented, "It's distressing to see the makers of Star Trek: Prodigy use my work, which I created for them, in their trailer. Here's the matte painting I made for Star Trek under the direction of Ben Hibon and Alexandre Tanné, as seen in the trailer."

Sad to see that some of the work I did for Star Trek: Prodigy got stolen by Vyjayanthi movies in their trailer:https://t.co/KWrFKJkksnThis is the matte painting I did for Star Trek under direction of Ben Hibon and Alessandro Taini and then as it appears in the trailer. pic.twitter.com/CYFP008Rd7

— Oliver Beck (@OliverBeckArt) June 13, 2024

Accompanying his post were images highlighting similarities between his artworks and those featured in the promotional footage of 'Kalki 2898 AD'. Beck went on to highlight another artist, Sung Choi, whose work he claimed was also replicated without permission. "They also directly copied the work of the talented Sung Choi," he asserted, underscoring what he saw as a pattern of intellectual property infringement.

T 5047 - KALKI 2898 AD on 27th June .. an experience of a lifetime .. !! pic.twitter.com/rK1Neke1Qp

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 19, 2024

In an interview, Oliver Beck elaborated on the nuances of spotting plagiarism in the realm of conceptual art. "It's challenging to spot plagiarism if you're not an artist. It may not be a direct copy, but all my artist friends and the community recognize that it was inspired by my work and matches my portfolio," Beck commented. He further emphasized that the producers of 'Kalki 2898 AD' had previously engaged him to contribute to the film, implying a familiarity with his artistic style and portfolio. "They approached me to work on this film, so they are familiar with my portfolio and have seen my work it's quite a coincidence," he added.

When asked about potential legal actions, Beck acknowledged the complexity of proving plagiarism in such cases. Unlike the clear-cut instance involving Sung Choi, where direct copying was alleged, Beck noted that the similarities in his case might not meet the stringent legal criteria for plagiarism. This posed a significant challenge in pursuing formal recourse against the production team of 'Kalki 2898 AD'.

Set against the backdrop of these accusations, 'Kalki 2898 AD' is poised for release on June 27th, boasting a star-studded cast including Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan in pivotal roles. Directed by Nag Ashwin and produced under the prestigious banner of Vyjayanthi Movies, the film commands attention with an estimated budget of 600 crores.

- PTC PUNJABI