Rishab Shetty and Hombale Films wrap the 250-day shoot of Kantara: Chapter 1
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Mahavatar Narasimha Becomes First Major Indian Animated Box Office Hit Since 2005s Hanuman
New Delhi: Mahavatar Narasimha has taken the Indian film industry by surprise, emerging as the biggest animated box office success since Hanuman (2005). Rooted in Indian mythology and centred on the fierce avatar of Lord Vishnu, the film has struck a chord with audiences through its powerful visuals, immersive storytelling, and deep spiritual themes. This breakthrough marks a historic moment for Indian animation, a genre that has long struggled to achieve commercial viability. While Hanuman was once hailed as a pioneer, it only broke even. Mahavatar Narasimha, however, is breaking records and is now on course to become one of the highest-grossing animated films in Indian cinema history. Also Read | Mahavatar Narsimha Movie Review: Impressive Visual Spectacle Driven By Epic Tale Of Mythology What began as a limited release quickly turned into a nationwide sensation, as strong word-of-mouth and widespread acclaim drove massive demand. Theatre counts have since expanded dramatically, with box office collections remaining strong into the film's second weekend. Buoyed by this phenomenal reception, producers Kleem Productions and Hombale Films have announced international releases in key global markets including the United States, Canada, the UK, the Middle East, and Australia, a rare feat for an Indian animated film. Also Read | Mahavatar Narsimha Set To Release In Australia From THIS Date - Details Inside More than a commercial success, Mahavatar Narasimha signals a creative turning point. It demonstrates that when mythological stories are treated with authenticity and cinematic ambition, they resonate across generations. The film blends devotional storytelling with modern animation, proving that Indian mythology can command a global audience when presented with sincerity and excellence.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Mahavatar Narsimha Director On Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: ‘We Project God Onto Actors'
Ashwin Kumar on Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: 'In India, we project God onto the actor.' Director explains why animation avoids this casting burden. Ashwin Kumar, the director of the animated mythological feature Mahavatar Narsimha, is not only celebrating the film's strong box office opening — ₹7.5 crore over its debut weekend — but also reflecting on the deeper intent behind building India's first seven-part animated mythological universe. Titled the Mahavatar Universe, the ambitious project by Hombale Films will chronicle the stories of all ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, starting with the fierce and divine incarnation of Narsimha. In an interview with Indian Express, Kumar spoke about why India is witnessing a resurgence of mythological storytelling and how the format of animation allowed him to sidestep the celebrity-driven discourse dominating the live-action adaptation space — a subtle nod to the casting chatter around Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravana. 'Because it's never enough," Kumar said when asked why now is the right time to revisit Hindu mythology on screen. 'There have been so many outtakes and renditions of the same stories. But when you do it based on the shastras authentically, keeping the spirit and the divinity alive, then the idea is to resonate not just at the individual level, but at the soul level. So that the message, impression, and philosophy go deep into the culture and stay there for a long time." The director pointed out that ancient India had various ways to transmit mythology — sculptures in temples, toli performances in town squares, and the guru-shishya tradition that preserved knowledge across generations. Now, Kumar sees cinema, particularly animation, as the modern medium to continue that legacy. 'The times, the media, and the expression have changed, yet the spirit remains the same. And that's what we seek to do." Kumar also addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the casting of Tiwari's Ramayana and whether certain actors, especially someone like Ranbir Kapoor, can convincingly portray divine figures like Lord Ram. His response was clear — animation offered a unique advantage. 'Yes, that's true. For us, Narsimha Swami is our hero. There's a pro and con to everything," he said. 'From where I see it, in India, we have a habit of projecting the God onto the actor and the actor onto the God. That's something which is difficult to escape. Since we went with animation, we were able to move away from that. That's an advantage we have." By creating animated versions of mythological epics, Kumar and his team have sidestepped the intense scrutiny that live-action actors often face when stepping into divine roles — scrutiny that is often tied to personal image, stardom, and audience perception rather than scriptural authenticity. With Mahavatar Narsimha serving as the foundation, the Mahavatar Universe promises to be an expansive spiritual saga — with the next avatars expected to include Vamana, Parashurama, and eventually Krishna and Kalki. As Ramayana and Aamir Khan's Mahabharata begin to take shape in the live-action sphere, Kumar's animated venture offers a compelling counterpoint — one rooted in devotion, storytelling, and cultural preservation, without the noise of stardom. First Published: July 28, 2025, 18:15 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.
Pink Villa
4 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Amidst successful box office run in India, Mahavatar Narsimha to release in UK, Australia, Europe on July 31
Mahavatar Narsimha, the animated mythological epic, hit the big screens in India on July 25, 2025. Owing to the massive success at the Indian box office, the makers are all geared up to release it across theaters worldwide from July 31, 2025. Mahavatar Narsimha to hit big screens worldwide? The presenters of Mahavatar Narsimha, Hombale Films themselves confirmed the movie to be releasing in big screens across various international locations. The mythological epic is slated to hit big screens in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Europe, and Malaysia. The official updates were shared by the production company through their social media handles. What is Mahavatar Narsimha? Mahavatar Narsimha is based on the story of Narsimha, the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu, taking place in the Satya Yuga. Part-man and part-lion is known in Vaishnavism for ending religious persecution and calamity on earth, restoring dharma in the world. In a world set where demigods and demons exist, an asura king, Hiranyakashyap, seeks to avenge his brother, who was slain by Vishnu. Being granted the boon of immense strength by Lord Brahma, the king becomes an overlord of all three worlds, ruling as a tyrant. However, his five-year-old son Prahlad is the complete opposite of what he stood for, signaling a virtue of faith towards Lord Vishnu. When Hiranyakashyap plans to hurt his own son, the Hindu god saves him multiple times. In a moment when all hope seems lost, Lord Vishnu takes up the avatar of Narsimha, putting an end to the asura king's violence, restoring balance in the world. The epic mythological animated movie is directed by Ashwin Kumar, with Mahavatar Narsimha touted to be the first installment in the cinematic universe. In the following years, up until 2037, several movies from the interconnected universe are expected to hit the big screens. This includes ventures like Mahavatar Parshuram (2027), Mahavatar Raghunandan (2029), Mahavatar Dwarkadhish (2031), Mahavatar Gokulananda (2033), and Mahavatar Kalki in two parts (2035 and 2037). With an ensemble voice cast behind the film, Mahavatar Narsimha had music composed by Sam CS.
