In May 2021, when director Ashwin Kumar shared with me an early clip of what he was working on, I sensed that something extraordinary was in the making. It was clear, even then, that Mahavatar Narasimha, when released, would create ripples in the world of 3D cinema. Four years later, I can see that my instinct was well-founded. Mahavatar Narasimha is roaring!
In a cinematic landscape often dominated by fiction and fantasy, Mahavatar Narasimha emerges as a rare gem, a film that stands in its own class: a visually spectacular, spiritually grounded, and scripturally well-founded depiction of one of the most glorious historical events recorded in the Vedas and Puranas.
One very important point that most media outlets and newspapers tend to miss is that they describe the story as being based on Hindu “mythology.” The fact is, Mahavatar Narasimha is NOT based on “mythology” in the casual or fictional sense. It is rooted in the puranas, the actual history of this universe, and has been brought to theatre screens with sincerity, devotion and cinematic brilliance.
The story of Lord Narasimha (also spelled Nṛsimha) is recorded truth, passed down through Vedic scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavatam, Vishnu Purana, and Narasimha Purana. This same historical event is devotionally sung in bhajans and aratis by devotees around the world who know and relish the Lord’s appearance and pastimes.
Again, and I cannot emphasize enough that the appearance of Lord Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, to protect His staunch devotee Prahlada and to annihilate the tyrannical demon Hiranyakashipu is not mythology or fictional storytelling, as it is often misunderstood or even deliberately misrepresented by modern scholars and authors. Such dismissal arises only from the limitations of spiritual intelligence and the speculative arrogance of material intellect.
What this film does brilliantly is reintroduce an awe-inspiring chapter from the timeless history of the universe to a new generation in a format they can relate to. In richly detailed 3D animation, it recreates the darkness of Hiranyakashipu’s reign, the courage of little Prahlad, and the thunderous appearance of Lord Narasimha, a moment of direct transcendental intervention that reminds us of the immortal worlds of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha duskritam dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.
The animation quality of Mahavatar Narasimha is, without exaggeration, among the finest ever seen in Indian cinema. It is both a visual and technical marvel. Every detail, from the flickering of oil lamps in ancient palaces to the textures of the Lord’s transcendental armor, has been crafted with meticulous care and reverence. The rendering of Lord Narasimha’s form is particularly noteworthy: majestic, ferocious, and spiritually electrifying. The fluid visual transitions, well-measured camera movements, and dynamic facial animations bring depth to every character
The music elevates this experience further. The thoughtful blending of ancient Vedic tones and ragas with modern orchestration to create an emotionally powerful score enhances the story’s gravity. I would say this is not just an animation movie; it is cinematic art steeped in bhakti. The film proves once and for all that Indian studios, when backed by vision and values, can produce animation that rivals the best in the world.
Mahavatar Narasimha also announces the beginning of a bold, much-needed cinematic initiative; the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, which is set to present the pastimes of Lord Vishnu’s various avatars as recorded in the shastras. As emphasized above, this is not merely storytelling or showcasing technological prowess; it is dharmic preservation. This is sanatana dharma brought to theatre screens that are often flooded with films detrimental to one’s social, moral, and spiritual growth. It therefore deserves our wholehearted support.
What makes Mahavatar Narasimha even more remarkable is its multilingual release, making it accessible to audiences across linguistic and regional boundaries. The film is now available in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, with English subtitles as well. Its growing popularity has already begun to attract international attention, with screenings being planned in countries where Vedic culture is respected and studied. Notably, as the film has been created by an ISKCON (founder-acharya: Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) friend and devotee, many ISKCON centers worldwide are showing interest in supporting and promoting it. According to recent updates, the team is preparing releases in Korean, Japanese, Spanish, English, and Russian. This indeed is a remarkable step in bringing Vedic history to a global audience on the silver screen.
But for such films to flourish, they need more than praise. They need participation. That means no piracy. Pirating or watching unauthorized copies of such a film is not just unethical but it is disrespectful. Supporting it legally is not only a civic duty but a dharmic one. Why not go and watch Mahavatar Narasimha in theatres? Take your family, children, and friends. Show them what our culture truly represents… not myth or fantasy, but a glorious history that continues to shape our present and future.
In an age where distortion of dharma is common, this film, Mahavatar Narasimha, dares to present truth as it is, from the Shastras. Let us meet that courage with our own — by embracing our roots, honouring our scriptures, and roaring, in our own little ways, alongside Lord Narasimha for the world to hear and benefit.
Hare Krishna!
DOWNLOAD MAYAPUR VOICE APP
