Highlights
- Ele Animations launches the Sanatan Universe, beginning with Mahaprabhu Jagannath animated film.
- The film targets global audiences while preserving the mythology of Lord Jagannath.
- The studio plans a connected mythological franchise spanning films, TV, music, and educational content, based on stories of major Hindu deities.
Indian animation studio Ele Animations Pvt. Ltd. is entering the expanding mythology-IP race with a planned “Sanatan Universe” launch. In an exclusive Variety interview, Ele founder, director, and creative head Durga Prasad Dalai positioned the upcoming theatrical feature film Mahaprabhu Jagannath as the first chapter of the planned cinematic universe.
The studio is adapting its Pogo channel animated series Jay Jagannath into a theatrical feature, set for a pan-India release across more than 300 screens. The Mahaprabhu Jagannath film will be localized in Odia, Telugu, and Hindi with Cinepolis.
The Jay Jagannath television series has been running since 2024 on Pogo, building a loyal audience base over the years, before the studio decided to scale it into a theatrical release. The film focuses on the mythological lore of Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Puri in Odisha.
Ele Animations said the film aims to adapt Jagannath’s mythology for younger global audiences through large-scale animation production while retaining religious authenticity. Dalai’s plan goes beyond the movie; the studio wants to expand the narrative with multiple formats, including TV series, films, music, and educational content.
What is Ele Animations’ Sanatan Universe?
Dalai described the Sanatan Universe initiative as an effort to create a globally scalable, interconnected Indian mythological narrative rather than standalone films. He stated that the initiative is about “passing on our rich heritage and values to the next generation in a way that is fun, engaging, and visually stunning.”
“By leveraging our civilizational memory, we want to position Indian spiritual storytelling as a premium global proposition and education about our deities and culture through the medium of entertainment,” he further stated. The studio plans to introduce a live-stream channel from the Puri Jagannath Temple for global devotees, and immersive experience destinations beginning in Puri.
Dalai has not specifically stated the upcoming movies in the universe. However, the Sanatan Universe roadmap could potentially include projects related to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Kali, and Goddess Durga. Ele Animations' confirmed project, Mere Bhole, is scheduled for the next Rath Yatra cycle.
