Apr 19, 2026 9:00am IST
‘Mahavatar Parshuram’ Set For 2027 as Director Ashwin Kumar Promises Faster, Bigger Animation (EXCLUSIVE)
When "Mahavatar Narsimha" released in July 2025, it marked the culmination of a passion project that took director Ashwin Kumar five years to realize. A self-funded film, it went on to have a phenomenal theatrical run, grossing over ₹300 crore.
Now, Ashwin is gearing up for the second installment in his planned seven-film Mahavatar Cinematic Universe. The filmmaker had already mapped out the franchise’s storytelling order and timeline back in 2025, aiming to release one film every two years. The next chapter, based on the Parshuram avatar of Lord Vishnu, is slated for 2027. Its title and release date are set to be announced today at 11.22 a.m.
Is that timeline realistic, given that "Mahavatar Narsimha" took around three years of production? This time, funding is not a constraint, but the team has only recently locked the final script and is yet to begin pre-production.
“Limitations usually come from financial struggles, which take a toll. We are glad we do not have to go through that cycle again, thanks to the first film’s theatrical performance and the support of our presenting partners, the makers of KGF and Kantara. But the core remains the same. We need to tell a story that connects emotionally. That is why scripting, screenplays, and dialogues are crucial,” Ashwin Kumar says in an exclusive conversation with Variety India.
He adds, “Mahavatar Narsimha worked, despite not having the best animation quality, because it touched people’s hearts. That is our secret sauce.”
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According to the filmmaker, a 2027 release is “very doable.”
“We now have the budget to scale up production and access the resources we need. There have been significant technical upgrades since Mahavatar Narsimha, which will help us achieve this. With Mahavatar Parshuram, our aim is to take the animation to the next level, but in much less time,” he says, adding that the final scale will be determined after pre production.
Ashwin also points out a lesser known detail about the first film. Beyond dubbing it in multiple regional languages, the team also reworked animation for accurate lip sync. “We plan to do this for all future instalments,” he says.
While the film received widespread acclaim, it also faced criticism for its depiction of violence. Though it was certified U/A 13+, some audiences felt it might have received an A rating if it were live action.
“Every avatar serves a purpose, and violence is part of nature. We are mindful of what children watch, but we also recognize the kind of content they are exposed to today. Earlier, we saw milder violence on TV. That is no longer the case,” Ashwin says.
“What I want audiences, both parents and children, to take away is that sometimes violence becomes necessary to restore balance. I am not justifying excess, but in these stories, it often plays a role in setting things right.”
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