Ashwin Kumar's animated film, Mahavatar Narsimha, is currently exceeding expectations at the box office, achieving a level of success rarely seen for animated films in India. Released on July 25, 2025, the movie has not only become the highest-grossing animated film in India, but it has also outperformed several major Bollywood releases of the year, including Sitaare Zameen Par, Raid 2, and Housefull 5 in terms of ticket sales on BookMyShow.

Box Office Performance

Mahavatar Narsimha has demonstrated a strong and consistent performance since its release. By August 8, 2025, the film's Hindi version alone had grossed ₹83.55 crore, surpassing Bhool Chuk Maaf to become the 10th highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025. The film's total India collection stands at ₹112.8 crore, boosted significantly by its success in South Indian markets. Globally, the film is nearing ₹150 crore. According to Sacnilk, the film's net box office total after 14 days stands at ₹118.05 crore. The movie's success is particularly notable considering its relatively modest budget of ₹15 crore, leading to a substantial return on investment.

The film's director, Ashwin Kumar, clarified that the movie was made on a budget of ₹40 crores.

Comparison with Other Films

The success of Mahavatar Narsimha is even more impressive when compared to other major Bollywood releases. On BookMyShow, the film has already surpassed the total ticket sales of Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par in just 13 days. It is on track to beat the ticket sales of Fighter, with Hombale Films setting its sights on surpassing Singham Again's sales.

In comparison to other films released in 2025, Mahavatar Narsimha demonstrated surprising resilience. While many films experienced a significant drop in collections on their first Monday, Mahavatar Narsimha saw an extraordinary surge, with a 166.44% growth from its opening day, collecting ₹3.89 crore.

Factors Contributing to Success

Several factors have contributed to the film's success:

• Cultural Resonance: The film's devotional and cultural theme has resonated deeply with audiences across linguistic boundaries, particularly in the South Indian markets. The story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad's devotion to Lord Vishnu is a well-known and beloved tale.
• Animation Quality: Despite budget constraints, the film delivers stunning visuals and animation that have been praised for their ambition and execution. The depiction of Lord Vishnu's avatars and the climactic Narasimha appearance have been particularly well-received.
• Emotional Depth: The film effectively captures the emotions of Prahlad's devotion and Narasimha's divine fury. The voice performances and narrative focus on the triumph of faith and compassion have resonated with viewers.
• Timing and Release Strategy: The film was released at a time when there was an audience for mythological content.
• Word of Mouth: Strong word-of-mouth and positive audience reception have fueled the film's continued success, with families and spiritual seekers recommending the film.

Impact on Indian Animation

Mahavatar Narsimha's success is seen as a significant milestone for the Indian animation industry. It demonstrates the potential for animated films rooted in Indian mythology to captivate a wide audience and achieve commercial success. The film's director, Ashwin Kumar, aimed to revive the animation genre in India with this project. The film's success could pave the way for more high-quality animated films based on Indian stories and legends.

Future Prospects

With its strong box office performance and positive audience reception, Mahavatar Narsimha is expected to continue its successful run in theaters. The film has already been released in multiple languages and is being screened in more locations, including Australia and New Zealand. As the first installment in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, its success has generated excitement for future films in the series.