Ashwin Kumar's animated film, Mahavatar Narsimha, is set to make waves internationally with its upcoming release in Korean, alongside English, Japanese, Spanish, and Russian versions. The film, which premiered in theaters on July 25, 2025, is deeply rooted in Indian mythology and tells the story of Prahlad Maharaj, a young devotee whose faith in Lord Vishnu sparks divine intervention against tyranny.

Kumar expressed his admiration for Korean and Japanese storytelling and anime, stating that it is time for India to share its narratives with them. He hopes to see the Indian animation industry "step up" to the level of those in Japan, the United States, Korea, and China. He notes that Indian animators often serve outsourced work and need to believe in their own indigenous stories.

Mahavatar Narsimha is the first installment in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, a multi-platform cultural phenomenon that will expand into comics, video games, digital storytelling, and collectible experiences. The franchise is planned to conclude in 2037 with Mahavatar Kalki Part 2. Other films in the universe include Mahavatar Parshuram (2027), Mahavatar Raghunandan (2029), Mahavatar Dwarkadhish (2031), Mahavatar Gokulananda (2033), and Mahavatar Kalki Part 1 (2035).

The film is produced by Shilpaa Dhawan, Kushal Desai, and Chaitanya Desai under the banner of Kleen Productions and presented by Hombale Films. The music for Mahavatar Narsimha and the entire Mahavatar Cinematic Universe is composed by Sam C S, who was selected by Ashwin Kumar after he was impressed with his background score for the Tamil film Jada. Kumar, who has a musical background himself, felt that Sam's expertise in blending different genres would be perfect for the film's wide musical spectrum.

While the film has been praised for its ambition, vibrant visuals, and cultural reverence, some reviews have noted issues such as a slow first half, unpolished storytelling, and graphic violence that may be unsuitable for children. Despite these flaws, Mahavatar Narsimha is seen as a noteworthy attempt to combine computer animation with ambitious storytelling and a step towards building a strong Indian animation industry.

Ashwin Kumar aims to carve out a distinct Indian style, drawing from indigenous storytelling rather than mimicking Western animation. He believes that India already has archetypes that the world has drawn from and that sticking to these roots is essential.

Mahavatar Narsimha releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. It will initially be available to a global audience with English subtitles, with English, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, and Russian versions to follow. The film's plot revolves around the demon king Hiranyakashyap, who seeks revenge against Lord Vishnu and declares himself a god. Hiranyakashyap's son, Prahlad, becomes a devotee of Vishnu, leading to Vishnu's incarnation as Mahavatar Narsimha to confront evil and restore balance.