The announcement has piqued curiosity among cinephiles across India and beyond: Mahavatar Narsimha, the mythological animated film, is now part of the Oscar 2026 race, eligible in the Best Animated Feature category. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it competes alongside major international titles such as KPop Demon Hunters, Zootopia 2, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc.
Plot
The Mahavatar Narsimha plot draws from ancient Hindu scriptures — including the Vishnu Purana and the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana. The film traces two of Lord Vishnu’s avatars: first Varaha, who rescues Mother Earth (Bhudevi) from the demon Hiranyaksha, and then Narasimha, the fierce half-lion, half-human form, who appears to vanquish the tyrant Hiranyakashipu in a powerful climax. It explores themes of divine justice, faith, and protection of the righteous.
OTT release: Where to watch
For those wondering where to watch Mahavatar Narsimha, the film was released on OTT platform Netflix on 19 September 2025. It is available in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
Runtime and technical details
The Mahavatar Narsimha runtime for its theatrical version was approximately 131 minutes. The film was also screened at the 55th International Film Festival of India in November 2024.
Crew and creative vision
The Mahavatar Narsimha crew team includes Ashwin Kumar, making his directorial debut with this ambitious animation. The screenplay is by Jayapurna Das, and the evocative score is composed by Sam C. S. Produced by Kleem Productions and presented by Hombale Films, the film is intended as the first chapter of a seven-part Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, centred on Vishnu’s ten avatars.
Box office collection and record-breaking run
Mahavatar Narsimha box office collection has been extraordinary for an Indian animated film. Its final theatrical gross is reported at around ₹ 298–326 crore globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film in India. According to local trade data, the film earned ₹ 2.29 crore on its opening day and reached ₹ 53 crore in its first week. By its third weekend, it had already collected ₹ 171 crore.
Remarkably, even after its OTT release, the film continued to draw audiences to theatres: in week 9 it added another ₹ 49 lakh to its box office total.
Mahavatar Narsimha Oscar 2026: what it means
This is a landmark for Indian animation: Mahavatar Narsimha’s inclusion in the 98th Academy Awards shortlist for Best Animated Feature is a signal that large-scale mythological storytelling can resonate on a global platform. Its Oscar 2026 bid not only raises the profile of the film but also highlights the growing potential of Indian animated cinema on the world stage.
