logo
Filmmaker Anand Gandhi, game designer Zain Memon launch Maya Narrative Universe

Filmmaker Anand Gandhi, game designer Zain Memon launch Maya Narrative Universe

News184 days ago
New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI) Filmmaker Anand Gandhi and game designer Zain Memon on Friday launched the 'Maya Narrative Universe', a new work of science-fiction fantasy that will unfold across diverse mediums, including films, games, novels, toys, graphic novels, and immersive experiences.
The Maya narrative universe, which is developed by Gandhi and Memon's storytelling studio Department of Lore Inc and is touted as a 'new mythology for the age of AI", will begin with the release of novel 'Maya: Seed Takes Root", on August 19.
The fantasy novel is based in a universe where a biological network of sentient trees, known simply as 'Maya", acts as the living internet of planet Neh. Every citizen tethers daily to Maya, entering shared dreamscapes to work, learn and seek whatever their hearts desire.
The immortal 'Divyas" harvest this data to see billions of possible futures. They don't rule through force but by shaping desires. It is a universe where everyone is tracked and everyone is 'nudged".
Equal parts sci-fi, fantasy, and philosophy, Maya is aimed at 'the hyperaware, hyperconnected minds of today".
'We're witnessing the greatest experiment in narrative control in human history. MAYA is a response to that. Maya doesn't just entertain, it empowers. It demystifies the invisible architecture of control, from the data trails we leave behind to the subconscious nudges we don't even notice. This universe is a toolkit for immunity against digital manipulation," the 'Ship of Theseus" director said in a statement.
Developed over four years at the Department of Lore, the Maya universe has been created in collaboration with evolutionary biologists, linguists, architects, philosophers, and system theorists.
'Each Maya experience stands alone, yet interweaves. The narrative follows multiple perspectives across different species, each with radically different ways of perceiving reality, and a deeper, systemic truth with no heroes, villains or absolutes. Maya isn't about heroes vs villains. It's about the defining conflicts of our civilization today: truth vs dogma, innovation vs stagnation, freedom vs control, and haves vs have-nots," said Memon, who earlier created political board game 'Shasn" with Gandhi.
Upcoming books in the series include 'Maya Lore Neh: Its Species and Their Cultures", and 'Built Environments of Maya" that further the Maya mythology.
Some of the artists who have made the art of Maya include Wayne Barlowe ('Avatar"), Wētā FX ('Lord of the Rings", 'Planet of The Apes"), and MPC VFX ('House of the Dragon").
The narrative universe will also include 'Yuyutsu", a card-based tactical combat game. PTI MAH MAH BK BK
view comments
First Published:
August 01, 2025, 15:00 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mirzapur Actress Shweta Tripathi Buys A 3BHK Apartment In Chembur; Check Price
Mirzapur Actress Shweta Tripathi Buys A 3BHK Apartment In Chembur; Check Price

News18

time25 minutes ago

  • News18

Mirzapur Actress Shweta Tripathi Buys A 3BHK Apartment In Chembur; Check Price

Last Updated: Mirzapur star Shweta Tripathi buys a Rs 3 crore 3BHK flat in Mumbai's Chembur, avails stamp duty benefit for women buyers. Apartment spans 938 sq ft. Mirzapur actor Shweta Tripathi has become the latest Bollywood celebrity to make a big real estate investment in Mumbai. According to documents accessed by real estate analytics firm CRE Matrix, Shweta has purchased a 3BHK apartment worth Rs 3 crore in Chembur, one of Mumbai's rapidly developing residential hubs. The property, situated on the 9th floor of the Supreme Boulevard building by developer Supreme Universal, spans 938 sq ft of usable area. The deal was registered on July 2, 2025, with a stamp duty payment of Rs 15 lakh and a registration fee of Rs 30,000. Interestingly, documents reveal that Shweta availed the stamp duty relaxation offered by the Maharashtra government, which grants concessions to women homebuyers to encourage female ownership. She also received two dedicated car parkings as part of the deal, with the price coming in at approximately Rs 32,000 per sq ft. Despite outreach, Shweta Tripathi and Supreme Universal did not respond to queries. This article will be updated if and when a response is received. Shweta Tripathi rose to fame for her performance as Gajgamini 'Golu' Gupta in Mirzapur, the Amazon Prime Video crime thriller that first streamed in 2018. An alumnus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) with a degree in Fashion Communication, she initially worked behind the camera before turning to acting. Her breakthrough role came in Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan (2015), followed by appearances in Haraamkhor, Gone Kesh, and Cargo. In 2025, Shweta also announced her debut as a producer, expressing a strong desire to back bold and unconventional stories. Chembur has seen significant traction in the real estate space in recent years. Major developments by Godrej Properties, including the acquisition of Raj Kapoor Studio and Bungalow, have turned the spotlight on the area. The Supreme Boulevard project stands on land formerly owned by the Kapoor family, adding to its high-profile appeal. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Did you know Salman Khan hesitated to romance Sonam Kapoor on screen in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo due to bond with Anil Kapoor?
Did you know Salman Khan hesitated to romance Sonam Kapoor on screen in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo due to bond with Anil Kapoor?

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Did you know Salman Khan hesitated to romance Sonam Kapoor on screen in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo due to bond with Anil Kapoor?

may be known for his effortless charm on screen, but even the superstar had his reservations when it came to romancing in the 2015 blockbuster . The reason? A deep-rooted family bond. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A surprising revelation In what was a surprising revelation, both Sonam and director shared how Salman hesitated to take on the role—mainly because of his long-standing friendship with Sonam's father, . What followed was months of convincing, candid conversations, and ultimately, a pairing that became one of the film's many highlights. Salman Khan's awkwardness According to a report published in News18, Sonam admitted that Salman was initially hesitant to work with her in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Given his long-standing friendship with her father, Anil Kapoor—with whom he shared screen space in films like Biwi No. 1 and No Entry—Salman found the idea of romancing his friend's daughter on screen quite awkward. A whole lot of convincing It reportedly took the superstar nearly five months to come on board for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. He later revealed that he was initially unwilling to work with Sonam Kapoor, but director Sooraj Barjatya eventually convinced him. Salman explained that the romance in Sooraj's films has a unique tone, which made the role challenging—but added that Sonam was the perfect fit for the character. On her part, Sonam had no reservations about working with Khan. She shared that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, adding that she had grown up watching his films and shared a familial bond with him. She also mentioned her familiarity with his family, including his father, . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Prem Ratan Dhan Payo became the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and marked Salman Khan's fourth collaboration with Rajshri Productions. The hit partnership previously delivered blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). Director Sooraj Barjatya revealed that he initially narrated the script of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo to Salman Khan without mentioning who the female lead would be. He shared that he was looking for a fresh face, and after watching Raanjhanaa, he felt Sonam Kapoor was the perfect choice for the role. When director Sooraj Barjatya finally showed Sonam Kapoor's photo to Salman Khan, the actor was taken aback. Barjatya recalled that Salman looked at him and said he needed time to think it over. A month went by before he gave a nod. Salman was reportedly concerned about the age gap, Sonam's youthful appearance, and her height. Having watched her grow up, it was initially difficult for him to imagine romancing her on screen.

Film shootings come to halt in Hyderabad due to workers strike
Film shootings come to halt in Hyderabad due to workers strike

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

Film shootings come to halt in Hyderabad due to workers strike

Last Updated: Hyderabad, Aug 5 (PTI) Most of the film shootings in Hyderabad came to a halt with workers demanding a 30 per cent wage hike. The representatives of the workers on Tuesday met labour department officials regarding their demands. Alexander, a leader of the workers, told PTI Videos that the hike is not 30 per cent at once, but 10 per cent annually, which is due this year. However, the hike has not been effected since the last four months, he alleged. Damodar Prasad, Secretary of Telugu Film Chamber, told PTI that the workers 'unilaterally" decided two days ago to work only for producers, who pay them the increased wages though talks are on going with the involvement of the labour department. He observed that the Telugu film industry already pays higher wages to union workers than other state film industries. The stance of the producers is that talks would continue if the workers 'unconditionally" resume work, he said. Efforts were on to end the stalemate, he said, expressing confidence that the issue would be resolved soon. Producer C Kalyan told reporters that several film producers met superstar Chiranjeevi, who suggested that the issue be resolved harmoniously in another two-three days. PTI SJR SJR KH (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 23:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store