From Indian Mythology to the Oscars — Mahavatar Narsimha Joins the Race for Best Animated Feature

Ashwin Kumar’s epic mythological animation earns a spot among 35 global contenders for the 98th Academy Awards.

Director Ashwin Kumar’s animated mythological epic Mahavatar Narsimha has officially been listed among the 35 films eligible for the Best Animated Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards — a major milestone for Indian animation.

The film secured its eligibility after completing a qualifying commercial theatrical run in the United States, fulfilling the Academy’s requirements of at least seven consecutive days of screenings, with a minimum of three shows per day, including one between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

This recognition places the film in competition with several international heavyweights such as KPop Demon Hunters, Zootopia 2, Elio, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and Ne Zha 2, making the road to the shortlist highly competitive. Industry watchers have already noted that this year’s animated lineup is particularly crowded with big-budget global releases.

Mahavatar Narsimha, the first part of a planned seven-film saga, brings to life the stories of two avatars of Lord Vishnu — Varaha and Narsimha — blending mythology with modern animation techniques. The movie had a strong theatrical run in India before releasing on Netflix, where it gained an additional boost in global viewership.

Written and conceptualized by Ashwin Kumar under his own banner and produced in collaboration with Hombale Films — the studio behind blockbusters like Kantara and KGF — the film was made on an estimated budget of ₹40 crore. It went on to collect over ₹325 crore at the Indian box office, making it one of the most successful animated films in the country.

With its inclusion in the Oscars eligibility list, Mahavatar Narsimha has brought Indian animation into the international spotlight. Should it advance to the official shortlist and nomination stage, it would mark a groundbreaking moment for the Indian animated film industry.

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