By Ayush Srivastava

Copyright india

A highly stylized mythological epic has quietly shaken up both cinemas and streaming charts earning massive applause not just for ancient legends but for proving that Indian animation can compete with mainstream films on every front and now it has managed to beat one of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of 2025.
Which movie is this?
The film is Mahavatar Narsimha directed by Ashwin Kumar. It hit theaters on July 25 2025 glowing reviews in tow. After shattering box‑office records surpassing Rs 300 crore globally the animation made its OTT debut on Netflix streaming from September 19 in Hindi Tamil Telugu Kannada and Malayalam which helped its reach far beyond its initial release. What truly stands out is how Mahavatar Narsimha has outperformed several live‑action films in its eighth week.
It overtook Saiyara (starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda) in box‑office numbers becoming one of the year’s top long‑running hits. On OTT it didn’t slow down. The film topped Netflix India’s trending list and held the #1 spot for more than 24 hours after its streaming release. It wasn’t just a theater success it’s now making waves in homes too.
How has it managed to surpass Saiyaara and others?
There are several ingredients behind its powerful pull. First the animation is ambitious with large‑scale visuals intense mythological storytelling and emotional beats that resonate with viewers rooted in culture and childhood narratives. Second its narrative is both familiar and fresh: the devotion of Prahlad the tyranny of Hiranyakashipu and the avatar manifestation of Lord Vishnu in Narasimha form. Traditional puranic stories retold with modern animation and technical finesse catch both spiritual interest and blockbuster curiosity.
Third its OTT release timing was smart. After a strong box office run moving to Netflix allowed people who missed theatrical release to catch up amplifying reach. And finally the multilingual availability meant minimal language barriers letting the film find audiences across regional lines.
Story Highlights
Mahavatar Narsimha released in theatres on July 25 2025 and earned over Rs 300 crore globally becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films in Indian cinema.
It premiered on Netflix on September 19 in five Indian languages boosting its reach across diverse audiences.
The film surpassed Saiyara (featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda) in its 8th-week box office run a rare feat for any film especially an animated one.
It became the #1 trending film on Netflix India holding the spot for over 24 hours after its streaming debut.
Mahavatar Narsimha is not just a win for animation but a cultural moment that shows how strong storytelling rooted in Indian mythology and powered by smart distribution can resonate across platforms and break box-office stereotypes.