Indian filmmakers turn to mythology in bid to supplement spectacle with cultural sentiments
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Filmmakers across Indian languages are churning out mythological tales even after the middling performance of such movies recently, hoping to combine high-quality visual effects with a larger-than-life narrative to speak to cultural and nationalistic sentiments, besides catering to family audiences.
While Ranbir Kapoor will star in a two-part franchise based on the Ramayana - expected to be released in Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027 - Vicky Kaushal will be seen in Mahavatar (December 2026), where he plays eternal warrior Chiranjeevi Parashurama. The makers of Hanu-Man, a Telugu film that made waves earlier this year, have already announced Jai Hanuman, a sequel scheduled for 2025.
Even though mythology-centric films released in the recent past, such as Adipurush and Brahmastra, had a mixed reception and their box office collections were less than impressive, experts said the upcoming mythological titles provide an opportunity for grand storytelling and production values, albeit at high budgets. Further, they will need to be headlined by mainstream stars to appeal to wide audiences.
“There’s still undeniable interest in such content among audiences. These stories are deeply rooted in Indian culture, often resonating on an emotional level with viewers," said Gautam Dutta, CEO – revenue and operations at PVR INOX Ltd.
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