I have always been a fan of mythological movies and have seen almost all of them. The best part of such movies is their timeless theme of good vs evil, human nature, and the power of divine or supernatural. These movies celebrate cultural stories and traditions, and also examine the beliefs, morals, and worldview of a particular culture. Mahavatar Narsimha is also a mythological movie based on the well-known mythological story of Prahalad and Narsimha, which has been fabulously picturized with visual grandeur. While Adipurush is a retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana, and the life journey of Lord Rama.
The Story:
The movie explores the story of Lord Vishnu’s fierce incarnation, Narsimha, who appears to vanquish evil and restore balance, drawn from Vishnu Purana, Narsimha Purana, and Shrimad Bhagavat Purana. It revolves around the conflict between good and evil, especially Hiranyakasipus(a demon king) tyranny and Prahlads devotion to lord Vishnu. Through this wonderful mythological story, the movie has successfully shown the faith, humanity, dharma, and importance of choosing spirituality over hatred and greed.
While the story of Adipurush revolves around the life journey of Raghava(Lord Rama), the prince of Ayodhya lives in exile alongside his wife Jaanki(Ma Sita) and his brother Shesh(Laxman), and his allies, to rescue his wife, kidnapped by the King of Lanka(Ravan).
Movie Strengths:
The one thing that sets the movie apart from other traditional mythological movies is its detailed landscape, grand palaces, and the impressive depiction of Narsimhas arrival, showing Indias emerging animation capabilities. The movie utilizes various animation tools and techniques to push the boundaries of Indian animation. Apart from visuals, the soundtrack and cast have done a great job to make this movie a big hit.
Though Adipurush has not impressed me much, its music, especially Jay Shri Ram and Ram Siya Ram, was really impressive and can evoke emotions. Also, the climax battle scenes, featuring Saif Ali Khans Ravana, have captivated me with some visual appeal and dramatic tension.
Movie Weaknesses:
Despite its stunning visuals and imaginative world-building, the movie has little disappointed in emotional engagement, especially in the second half and the climax. It lacks the depth and emotional pull needed to connect. Some characters like Diti, Bhoodevi, and certain deities and sages lean more towards Western caricatures than authentic Indian mythological figures, which I felt could be better.
While Narasimha is praised for its visual grandeur, Adipurush is the worst in its visuals, particularly its 3D presentation was unnecessary and somewhat a distracting addition to affect the mythological impact of the movie, which I didnt like at all.
Overall, Mahavatar Narsimha is a stirring tribute to unwavering devotion, eternal justice, and the battle between good and evil rooted deeply in Indian mythology. It is made with sincerity and emotion to feature the inspiring arrival of Lord Narsimha to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu. Despite a lack of emotional depth and a couple of jerky movements, the movie’s mythological reverence makes it a significant milestone in Indian animated storytelling. It is worth experiencing in cinema halls for both its pioneering effort and visual ambition.
While Adipurush did not match my thoughts in its attempt to bring Ramayan to the screen due to shortcomings in visual effects, dialogues, and overall storytelling. I would recommend watching the old Ramayana serial rather than this movie, as it doesnt justify the true epic Ramayana.