Highlights
- Mahavatar Narsimha qualifies for the Oscars 2026 Best Animated Feature category, becoming the first full-length Indian animated film to enter the global race.
- The film, a 2D/3D mythological epic based on the avatar of Vishnu, has grossed ₹326.82 Cr. (~$36.6M) worldwide, becoming the highest-earning Indian animated feature in India.
- Its Academy eligibility reflects a breakthrough moment for India’s animation ecosystem, signaling rising AVGC investment.
Indian animated feature Mahavatar Narsimha has officially entered the race for the 98th Academy Awards’ Best Animated Feature category. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) confirmed 35 animated films meeting their eligibility criteria on Nov. 21, for the Oscars 2026, and Ashwin Kumar’s mythological epic Mahavatar Narsimha made it to that list.
To qualify, Mahavatar Narsimha completed a required commercial theatrical run in the United States, a prerequisite for animation feature contenders. The film became the highest-grossing Indian animated movie after generating ₹326.82 Cr. (~$36.6M) globally.
Mahavatar Narsimha was first released at the International Film Festival of India in Nov. 2024, before hitting theatres in July 2025. Produced by Kleem Productions and written by Jayapurna Das, the film released in both 2D and 3D formats.
The movie is based on the story of Narsimha, the half-man, half-lion avatar of Vishnu, a story the director has been fascinated with since 2009. It drew attention for its use of Indian mythological aesthetics in a full-CG animated feature.
The Academy’s eligibility list does not constitute a nomination yet, but it makes it eligible for voters to vote for it to be selected as one of the five shortlisted finalists for the Animated Feature Film category.
What Mahavatar Narsimha’s Oscar Eligibility Means for Indian Animation
Director Ashwin Kumar stated that the recognition signals a turning point for Indian animation and validates the team’s multi-year effort to “represent the first Indian animated feature to achieve such recognition.” While the film is not in the final nominees list yet, the inclusion marks a significant leap for Indian animation, which is largely labeled as “children’s content.”
If Mahavatar Narsimha makes it to the final nominee list, it would become the first Indian animated feature to achieve the feat.
The 2026 animation race is also notably competitive. The 35 global contenders include Disney's Zootopia 2, Sony’s K-Pop: Demon Hunters, Universal’s The Bad Guys 2, and high-profile Japanese titles such as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, and Scarlet.
Historically, India has struggled to convert animation enthusiasm into large-scale original IP. However, Mahavatar Narsimha’s arrival on the Oscars eligibility list reflects a broader transition in India’s animation ambitions. It also builds on the growing national investment in the AVGC sector under government incentives, and a surge in domestic animation consumption driven by anime platforms such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Muse Asia, and Disney+ Hotstar’s anime expansion. Mahavatar Narsimha is currently available on Netflix.
