Mahavatar Narsimha: Indian Animated Blockbuster Shortlisted for Best Animated Feature at Oscars 2026

In a landmark moment for Indian animation, Kleem Productions and Hombale Films’ Mahavatar Narsimha—the animated blockbuster that dominated the box office—has been shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature Film category.

Directed by Ashwin Kumar, the film finds itself listed alongside major contenders such as KPop Demon Hunters, Zootopia 2, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle. To qualify in the category, a film must run over 40 minutes, with animation making up at least 75% of its duration.

Earlier, India had selected Dharma Productions’ Homebound as the country’s official Oscar entry in the International Feature Film category.

Mahavatar Narsimha is the first instalment of the ambitious seven-film Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, with the next chapter, Mahavatar Parashurama, slated for a worldwide theatrical release in 2027.

Released in July, Narsimha emerged as a massive box-office success, grossing around ₹325 crore worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Indian animated film ever, setting the bar high for future instalments.