Mahavatar Narsimha in Oscars 2026 Race With Zootopia 2

In a landmark moment for Indian animation, Mahavatar Narsimha—a mythological epic rooted in the story of Lord Vishnu’s avatars—has officially entered the Oscars 2026 race. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has included the Indian animated feature among the 35 eligible films competing for a nomination in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled to take place on March 16, 2026.

This achievement not only places an Indian animated production on a global stage but also positions Mahavatar Narsimha for what could become a historic feat: India’s first-ever nomination in the Oscars’ animation category. The Academy will announce the final list of nominations on December 16, intensifying anticipation within the Indian film industry.

Confirming the eligibility lineup, the Academy said in an official statement, “Thirty-five features are eligible for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards. Some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfil that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.”

With this announcement, Mahavatar Narsimha stands shoulder-to-shoulder with high-profile global contenders—a rare and proud moment for India’s still-nascent animation ecosystem.

A Global Race Packed With Heavyweights

Mahavatar Narsimha now competes in a formidable international lineup featuring:

Netflix’s global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2
DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2
Crunchyroll/Sony’s anime titles Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Disney-Pixar’s Elio
Neon’s Arco
GKids’ Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Netflix’s In Your Dreams

Interestingly, one of the most anticipated titles of the year, China’s mega-blockbuster Ne Zha 2, is absent from the list, injecting an unexpected twist into the race.

To secure eligibility, Mahavatar Narsimha fulfilled the Academy’s qualifying norms: a seven-day commercial run in the U.S. with at least three screenings per day—including one between 6 pm and 10 pm—besides ensuring over 40 minutes of runtime and maintaining the Academy-mandated minimum of 75% animation.

A Mythology-Driven Indian Success Story

Directed by debutant filmmaker Ashwin Kumar, Mahavatar Narsimha weaves the powerful tale of Vishnu’s Varaha and Narasimha incarnations. Released across India in 2D and 3D formats in July 2025, the film quickly rose to become one of the year’s biggest blockbusters, eventually debuting on Netflix to widespread acclaim.

The film marks the beginning of an ambitious seven-part Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, which will chronicle the stories of Vishnu’s ten incarnations. The next chapter, Mahavatar Parshuram, is slated for a 2027 release.

The Rise of KPop Demon Hunters and the Oscars Race Beyond Animation

In a parallel global success story, Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters—a cultural juggernaut fusing K-pop glamour with supernatural action—has also secured its place among the 35 eligible animated contenders. The film, now the most-watched Netflix title of all time with over 541 million hours viewed, achieved eligibility after a qualifying theatrical run in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Its UK theatrical run, however, did not meet BAFTA qualification standards.

Alongside its animation category bid, KPop Demon Hunters is also a strong contender in the Best Original Song category with its viral track “Golden”, and could potentially make an appearance in documentary and international film shortlists.

The film even made an unexpected theatrical splash in August, earning an estimated $18 million, a figure that would have topped box-office charts had Netflix reported its theatrical earnings. Its soundtrack has also dominated charts, with eight songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100.

Netflix, which won its first animated Oscar in 2022 for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, is now vying to repeat that triumph.

A Massive Oscars Slate: Documentaries and International Films

The Academy has also released the full list of eligible films for the Documentary and International Feature categories.

Best Documentary Feature

A record-breaking 201 documentaries have been submitted this year—the highest among all categories. The documentary branch will shortlist 15 titles by December 16 before narrowing the field down to five nominees.

Best International Feature Film

This year, 86 international films are in contention. These include:

Homebound (India)
Sentimental Value (Norway)
Sirat (Spain)
The Secret Agent (Brazil)
It Was Just an Accident (France)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
My Father’s Shadow (UK)

A unique standout is 2000 Meters to Andriivka, a joint production also eligible in both Documentary and International Feature categories.

Both categories will release a 10-film shortlist on December 16.

Mahavatar Narsimha: Mythology Meets Modern Cinema

Mahavatar Narsimha brings to life the ancient legend of Narasimha—Vishnu’s fourth avatar—set in the Satya Yuga. The narrative unfolds in the celestial realm of Demigods and Demons, where the asura king Hiranyakashyap vows to avenge his brother Hiranyaksha, slain by Vishnu’s Varaha avatar.

To achieve this, Hiranyakashyap performs intense penance to please Lord Brahma, seeking a boon that grants him near-immortality. Empowered by divine blessing, he conquers heaven, earth, and hell, and declares himself a god.

In stark contrast stands his five-year-old son, Prahlad—a symbol of innocence and unwavering devotion to Vishnu. Enraged by this defiance, Hiranyakashyap attempts repeatedly to kill him, but divine protection shields the child each time.

When tyranny peaks and hope dwindles, Vishnu descends as Narasimha—a fierce half-man, half-lion manifestation—slaying Hiranyakashyap at twilight on a threshold, fulfilling every clause of Brahma’s boon and restoring cosmic balance.

Box Office Triumph: A Genre-Defying Victory

Despite animation’s historically weak performance at the Indian box office, Mahavatar Narsimha has rewritten the rules. The film is closing in on the ₹300 crore gross milestone, with the Hindi version alone contributing over 75% of its domestic revenue. It is now the third-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, behind only Chhaava and Saiyaara.

To contextualize this triumph:

The most successful Indian animated film before 2025 grossed just ₹30 crore.
Hollywood animated blockbusters like Frozen 2, Inside Out 2, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse typically fetched only ₹40–50 crore in India.
Of 51 Hollywood animated releases since 2021, only 13 crossed the ₹10 crore mark.

Against this backdrop, Mahavatar Narsimha is a watershed moment for Indian animated cinema.

The 1200% Miracle: Viral Hindi Success

The film’s Hindi version has been its biggest breakthrough. From a modest opening of ₹1.35 crore, Mahavatar Narsimha witnessed an astonishing 1200% growth within ten days, crossing ₹67.25 crore.

Hindi Box Office Net (Key Milestones)

Day 1: ₹1.35 crore
Week 1 Total: ₹32.45 crore
Day 10: ₹17.8 crore
10-Day Total: ₹67.25 crore

The second weekend alone contributed ₹34.82 crore—a figure rarely seen for animated releases.

The film is pacing ahead of Kantara’s early Hindi run and is expected to surpass ₹80 crore soon.

Audience Echoes

Viewers across ages described the film as deeply moving, culturally enlightening, and visually engaging:

“Watching my son see Prahlad’s story on the big screen made it more relatable for him.”
“My kids watch Hollywood animation, but this film was rooted in our culture—that’s why it mattered.”
“I knew the story already, but seeing it like this was incredible.”

Parents, teachers, and young viewers have praised the film as both entertaining and educational.

Why Mahavatar Narsimha Works: A Deep Dive Into Its Cultural Impact

1. Mythology: A High-Demand, Low-Supply Genre

Audience research consistently shows strong demand for mythological stories. In fact, mythology ranked higher than many mainstream genres in a 2023 survey among Hindi theatre-goers. Yet, major mythological films are rare in Hindi cinema, creating a significant supply gap—a gap this film fills.

2. Breaking the “Cartoon” Barrier

In India, animation is often equated with children’s television. Mahavatar Narsimha challenged this by offering:

Serious tone
Reverential character treatment
No forced humor
Mature emotional arcs

By presenting Narasimha with spiritual gravitas rather than caricature-like animation, the film dismantled deep-rooted biases.

3. A True Family Film

From philosophical dialogues to complex themes like caste, devotion, and righteous conduct, the film appeals to adults as much as children. Dialogues such as “Bhakti kul nahin, hriday ka vishay hai” emphasize inclusivity and challenge societal norms—elements rarely seen in animated narratives.

4. Cultural Resonance and Identity

Films with strong cultural identity often become community events—seen with Gadar 2, The Kashmir Files, and Chhaava. Mahavatar Narsimha taps into this collective emotion by integrating Sanskrit shlokas, Hindu lore, and spiritual motifs.

5. Knowledge as a Value Proposition

Audiences appreciate stories that deepen cultural knowledge. The film integrates mythological insights—from Holika Dahan’s origins to Hiranyakashyap’s etymology—offering an educational layer that enhances viewer engagement.

6. Avoiding Live-Action Pitfalls

Live-action mythological films often face backlash over casting, visuals, and interpretation. Animation circumvents these sensitivities. Mahavatar Narsimha uses animation as a respectful, risk-free canvas to depict deities while still delivering cinematic spectacle.

Hombale Films: The Vision Behind the Phenomenon

Presented by Hombale Films—the studio behind KGF, Kantara, and Salaar—Mahavatar Narsimha embodies their trademark blend of cultural authenticity and mass appeal. The studio described the film as “a spiritual and cinematic experience,” emphasizing their commitment to rooted Indian narratives with global resonance.

Minimal marketing, strong community endorsement, and organic word-of-mouth powered the film’s meteoric rise—much like Kantara.

A Film, A Cultural Wave, and a Potential Oscar First

As Mahavatar Narsimha continues to draw massive footfalls and expand its theatrical presence, it is rewriting Indian animation history. Its success is not just commercial—it is cultural, emotional, and transformative.

The chants in theatres, reverent audiences watching Narasimha’s divine manifestation, and soaring family attendance make one thing clear: the film succeeded despite being animated, not because of it. What won audiences was its story, depth, faith, and cultural resonance.

Whether it ultimately secures an Oscar nomination or not, Mahavatar Narsimha has already achieved something rare—it has become a movement.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies