‘Mahavatar Narasimha’ creates new era for Indian animated cinema!

In a surprising turn of events, the mythological animated feature Mahavatar Narasimha has become a box office sensation, raking in over ₹30 crore within just five days of release. Produced on a modest budget of ₹6 crore, the film has struck gold with audiences, particularly families and children, thanks to strong word-of-mouth and compelling storytelling.

The film’s unprecedented success is challenging long-held assumptions in the Indian film industry regarding the viability of animation. Historically, Indian filmmakers have largely overlooked animation as a serious cinematic genre, citing lack of market interest and inconsistent audience engagement. While there have been a few notable attempts in the past, none have delivered on the scale or consistency seen in global markets like Hollywood, Japan, or China.

However, Mahavatar Narasimha appears to have broken that barrier. Produced by Hombale Films—known for backing blockbusters like KGF—this mythological animated venture has captured the imagination of audiences with its high-quality visuals, cultural authenticity, and emotionally resonant narrative rooted in Indian mythology. Taking inspiration from Vishnu’s ten avatars, the film focuses on the fierce and divine incarnation of Lord Narasimha. Its stunning animation, spiritual depth, and accessible storytelling have helped it connect with a wide demographic, from young children to devout elders.

Looking at global trends, the dominance of animated films in box office rankings cannot be ignored. Disney and Pixar continue to lead Hollywood with massive animated hits. In 2025 alone, A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch have emerged as the highest-grossing English films worldwide. Similarly, China’s Ne Zha 2 recently broke records to become the country's highest-grossing film ever, and Japan consistently sees anime features dominate their all-time top-grossing charts.

India too has a vast untapped audience for such content. Many international animated films already enjoy strong fanbases among Indian viewers. The issue, then, isn’t a lack of market—it’s a lack of consistent, high-quality domestic animated content. Mahavatar Narasimha has proven that there is both an appetite and a market for culturally rich animated features in India. Recognizing this momentum, Hombale Films has now committed to an ambitious ten-year animation franchise based on the Dasavataras of Lord Vishnu. Each installment will focus on a different avatar, aiming to build a cohesive mythological universe akin to Hollywood’s Marvel Cinematic Universe—but deeply rooted in Indian spirituality and culture.

If this vision is realized, Indian animation could enter a golden era, creating a new genre of cinematic storytelling that appeals to global and domestic audiences alike. All it needed was one bold step forward—and Mahavatar Narasimha has taken it with roaring success.

As the film continues to perform at the box office, all eyes are now on what comes next for India’s long-overdue animation revolution.