Mahavatar Narsimha: Made-in-India animation film re-scripts history
Mahavatar Narsimha: Made-in-India animation film re-scripts
history
‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ is a mythological animated film made in India, which hit theatres on July 25
It earned over Rs 105 crore in India within 10 days
Centered around Hiranyankashipu and Prahalad’s devotion to Lord Vishnu
If Saiyaara is headlining there is another mythological film ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ which lives up to the tag – Made In India – and one couldn’t be prouder than this. An animated film rooted in our mythology and made in our country is re-scripting history at the box-office one day at a time.
‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ marks the directorial debut of Ashwin Kumar and the first instalment of the seven-part Mahavatar Cinematic Universe. The film has grossed over Rs 105 crore in India in just 10 days, making it highest-grossing animated film in India.
Speaking to the media, Chaluve Gowda,
co-founder of Hombale Films, expressed his joy and happiness at ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ tasting success at the box office.The production house team is absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the response. It’s incredibly heartening to see audiences – young and old – embrace Mahavatar Narasimha with such passion. According to the producer, When they began this journey with Director Ashwin Kumar and Kleem, they very well knew they were attempting something bold and different, but the love pouring in from across the country and even internationally has exceeded all their expectations. They truly feel grateful.
Now this is a story most of us have grown up to – with our grandmothers regaling us with stories of Indian mythology and epics. While Ramayana and Mahabharata are available as films, television series and comic books, films based on Lord Vishnu are few and far between.
For children and adults alike, watching an animated film based on Indian mythology on the big screen is a unique experience. At a time when theatre screens are largely dominated films that aren’t exactly kid-friendly, ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ comes as a welcome respite. It’s a film you can take your children to without worrying about age-inappropriate content.
For a film that was produced on a modest budget of Rs 15 crore, it raced past Rs 100 crore globally within 10 days. As per Trade analyst Ramesh Bala the film has a Hindu mythology story at its core, which rooted in culture. But, obvious, it attracted a lot of audiences to the theatres.”
In Hindi, ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ is having a phenomenal run, nearly matching Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara’. While the animated film earned Rs 65.64 crore nett in India, ‘Kantara’ earned Rs 69.75 crore nett in four weeks. It’s just phenomenal.
According to Trade analyst Taran Adarsh it’s just isn’t hit, but a blockbuster. It is a great achievement. For a film that started with less than Rs 2 crore on its first day in theatres, this is a remarkable achievement. Any mythological story, made and marketed well in India, will always strike gold at the box office. And when the content connects, there is no stopping. This is not just limited to an animated film, but also worked for films like ‘Saiyaara’, ‘Chhaava’, ‘Stree 2’ and many other films that worked well at the box office.”
Trade Analyst Bala observed that the technological advancements in recent times have made an Indian animated film enjoy the fruits of hard work. “The market for Indian animated films has been so narrow in the past. ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ was seen as an alternate film that a family could watch along with their children. With the word-of-mouth helping the film, it is smashing the box office in all markets.
Hombale Films’ Chaluve Gowda tags the success a “landmarkand a testament to the fact that Indian audiences are ready for stories told in new ways – especially when rooted in our own culture and mythology.” “For a long time, animated films were seen as niche or only for children, but ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ has helped shift that narrative. It shows that animation, when treated with the same cinematic ambition and emotional depth as live-action, can break boundaries. We hope this success paves the way for more Indian animated films on the big screen.”
Mythological films have always found a special market in India. The success of these films have cemented the fact that the genre will always remain alive as long as there are believers on Earth.Such films are meant for a community experience. It is like going to the temple – an alternate avenue where you can tell the story of Bharat and Indian culture to kids.
News Edit KV Raman
