Goa, December 16, 2025 – Anand Gandhi, the acclaimed director of Tumbbad and Ship of Theseus, is embarking on a new ambitious journey with his latest project, MAYA. Gandhi describes MAYA as "a new mythology for the twenty-first century," a transmedia project that encompasses films, novels, games, graphic novels, and immersive experiences.
MAYA is a science-fiction fantasy set on the planet Neh, where sentient trees form a biological network called "Maya," functioning as the planet's living internet. Citizens connect daily to Maya, entering shared dreamscapes for work, learning, and personal desires. Immortal beings called "Divyas" harvest this data to foresee possible futures, shaping desires rather than ruling by force. This creates a universe where everyone is tracked and subtly influenced.
Gandhi, along with game designer Zain Memon, has been developing the MAYA narrative universe through their storytelling studio, Department of Lore Inc. The project is touted as a response to the age of AI and narrative manipulation. According to Gandhi, MAYA empowers and demystifies the invisible architecture of control, from data trails to subconscious nudges. Memon adds that MAYA explores conflicts relevant to today's civilization, such as truth versus dogma, innovation versus stagnation, freedom versus control, and the divide between haves and have-nots.
The MAYA journey begins with the novel MAYA: Seed Takes Root, which was released on August 19, 2025. The Kickstarter campaign for the novel, narrated by Hugo Weaving, achieved unprecedented success, surpassing its funding goal and becoming the fastest-rising debut novel on the platform. The novel is scheduled to reach readers in January 2026.
Gandhi and Memon express their excitement about the positive response to MAYA, stating that it confirms their belief that the world is seeking a new mythology that addresses contemporary issues. They emphasize that each MAYA experience is unique yet interconnected, following multiple perspectives across different species and revealing a systemic truth without heroes, villains, or absolutes.
Over 200 experts, including evolutionary biologists, linguists, architects, philosophers, and systems theorists, have collaborated on crafting the MAYA universe over four years. The team is currently working in a North Goa mansion, developing various aspects of the franchise, including board games, novels, video games, and films. A film adaptation is in pre-production, with hopes of casting Aamir Khan. Memon also mentioned plans to open the world of MAYA to external writers through an API. Gandhi hopes that MAYA will challenge Western cultural dominance in popular culture and philosophy.
