Mixing Reel With Myth: 5 Indian Films ‘Inspired’ By Hindu Mythology

Enchanting tales from mythological texts like the Ramayana or Mahabharata have always fuelled the Indian imagination and inspired forms of art. Be it the dialectical aspect of these texts or their literary construction including the fantastical settings, complex characters, exciting plot lines and enduring human values, these texts have been a rich source of inspiration for artists. One of the art forms that has prolifically borrowed from or adapted these these texts is the film industry. In fact, India’s first full-length feature film (silent) to ever be made was Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra (1913), which was based on the namesake Hindu ruler Harishchandra, believed to be the King of Ayodhya.

Since then, lakhs of films across Indian languages have been made based on mythological texts, motifs or adaptations. The last few years have nevertheless seen a growing trend of filmmakers adapting mythological stories for the big screen. While some are based on the texts and/or its interpretations, others are simply inspired by it. Nevertheless, in the present socio-political climate where religion has come to play an important role in shaping political and cultural narratives, the plethora of mythology-inspired films is telling.

In January last year, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, Swami Avimukteshwaranand announced the setting up of a 'Dharma Censor Board' to 'monitor' the content of Bollywood films, TV serials, web series and documentaries in case it insults 'Sanatan Dharma'. The announcement came amid controversy over a song in the Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone-starrer film Pathan (2023) in which the actress was seen gyrating on screen while wearing a saffron outfit (one of the many she wore through the song). Those opposed to it claimed that the song was against Indian culture.

At such a juncture, a growing trend films - for instance that depict Indian (mostly Hindu) mythologies, or nationalism, or historical Indian characters may suggest a shift towards 'government-friendly' films.

Nevertheless, with growing interest amid filmmakers to create such content, the genre of mythological films and books has been thriving with people having found a renewed interest in these topics.

Even reels and podcasts about mythological events, characters and incidents have started gaining traction on digital platforms. The re-runs of the ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ from the 1980s during the lockdown were a massive success. Adding to that was the release of ‘Adipurush’ last year which captured people’s imaginations. It may have been a dud at the box office because of its heavy production cost of around Rs 600 Crores, and earned wide criticism (even from proponents of Hindu nationalism) with regard to its poor depiction of deities. It nevertheless did manage to earn over Rs 450 Crores at the box office, which for any other average budget film would be counted as a massive success. Not to forget, the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer ‘Ramayan’ is also in the works and will mostly go on the floors later this year.

In India, where films have the power to shape the minds of millions of people, filmmakers and film regulation bodies in the country need to be careful when dealing with complex topics like religion and history. And even more so in an election year. With the Lok Sabha elections 2024 set to commence just after a fortnight, the growing list of Hindu or nationalist films about controversial political events in ancient or contemporary history needs to be read with care and a pinch of salt.

As the debate around “sanatan dharma” and controversial films like 'JNU' and others heats up again, Outlook takes a look at a few Hindu mythology-inspired films released in the last few years which depicted the idea or concept of “sanatan dharma” or drew from ancient Hindu texts.

‘Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva’ follows the story of a young man on the cusp of falling in love, whose world is turned upside down when he discovers his ability to control fire and his connection to a secret society of cosmic guardians. The film draws inspiration from the legendary “astra” mentioned in the Mahabharata, a weapon capable of destroying the universe. It is the first instalment of a trilogy, with the second part scheduled for release in 2026.

Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ is an epic saga that combines mythology, fantasy and adventure. The film follows the journey of Shiva, a prince destined to reclaim his kingdom and the elaborate battle between good and evil. The film is regarded as one of the highest-grossing Indian films, with a worldwide box office collection of almost 650 crores.

The sequel to ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, this film continues the saga of Amarendra Baahubali and delves deeper into his character. Drawing heavily from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Baahubali films are known for their epic battles, and this instalment is no exception. The movie shattered multiple box office records, leaving audiences in awe with its larger-than-life action sequences and emotional storytelling.

Released in 2023, the film is a modern adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana which follows the exiled prince Raghav's journey to rescue his wife Janaki from the Raakshash king Lankesh. The film was critically panned and failed to make profits at the box office.

‘Kartikeya 2’ is an Indian mythological film directed by Chandoo Mondeti. It is a sequel to the highly successful ‘Karthikeya’ (2014) and features Nikhil Siddhartha in the lead role. The film is packed with action, adventure and the thrill of Dr Karthikeya’s quest to find the lost anklet of Lord Krishna and his journey of self-discovery.

‘Ram Setu’ stars Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Satya Dev in the lead roles. The film revolves around the character of an archaeologist, played by Akshay Kumar, who is investigating whether or not the Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) existed or not. The expedition tries to prove that Ram Setu existed and it plays an important part in the history of both India and Sri Lanka. The film flopped in the box-office but managed to salvage itself when released on OTT.