India’s animation industry is reaching for the heavens, quite literally. Graphic India, the studio behind The Legend of Hanuman, has teamed up with Sadhguru to create Shiva: The Adiyogi, an ambitious animated feature film that aims to bring one of the most profound and least-explored stories of Indian mythology to global audiences.
Positioned as a grand mythological spectacle, the film explores a question rarely asked in epic storytelling: what could compel a being beyond time, beyond desire and beyond limitation to step into the affairs of humanity?
The answer unfolds through a sweeping tale of love, loss, fury and enlightenment. From the darkness before creation to the icy peaks of Kailash, the story traces Shiva’s journey through moments of cosmic upheaval, including the rise of Veerabhadra, a warrior forged from grief itself, and the unwavering devotion of the women whose love altered the course of existence.
At its heart lies the moment that transformed human consciousness, the sharing of sacred knowledge at Kanti Sarovar, where Shiva, the first yogi, is said to have revealed 112 paths to transcendence to seven seekers.
“In the Yogic culture, Shiva is not seen as a god. For us, Shiva is the Adiyogi, the first Yogi, and the Adiguru, the first Guru. For the first time in the history of humanity, Shiva the Adiyogi introduced the idea that the simple laws of nature are not permanent restrictions. If one is willing to strive, one can go beyond all limitations and attain liberation. Breaking the laws of physical nature is a spiritual process. In this sense, we are outlaws, and Shiva is the ultimate outlaw,” said Sadhguru.
The film’s story has been created by Sadhguru and Graphic India co-founder Sharad Devarajan and one of the most influential figures in Indian animation. Devarajan has helped shape some of the country’s most successful animated properties, including The Legend of Hanuman, Baahubali: The Lost Legends, Baahubali: Crown of Blood and The Legend of Karna. He is also known globally as the co-creator of Pavitr Prabhakar, Marvel’s Indian Spider-Man, who later appeared in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
“This is the story of how wisdom itself was born, and why it was shared with humanity,” shared Graphic India co-founder, the film’s producer, co-creator and writer Devarajan. “As a storyteller, there is no greater canvas, a cosmic love story, a tale of devastating loss, and action on a scale no epic has ever attempted. Armies of gods fall before a warrior born of pure grief. A blind conqueror storms the gates of heaven. A third eye opens and burns desire itself out of existence. And through all the fury and spectacle runs the most tender story imaginable, of the two women whose love was fierce enough to reach an infinite being, and the final gift he gave humanity because of them. To craft this story alongside Sadhguru, the defining voice of the Adiyogi in our time, is the greatest creative honour I could imagine.”
The film will leverage cutting-edge animation to bring its mythological world to life, blending large-scale action with emotional storytelling in a bid to connect with audiences across cultures and generations.
Production is being led by Graphic India’s award-winning animation studio. Devarajan serves as producer, while Jeevan J. Kang and Subrah S. Iyar join as executive producers. Navin Miranda and Nayana Bijli are attached as co-producers.
With mythology continuing to fuel India’s animation boom, Shiva: The Adiyogi is betting big on a story that predates every superhero origin tale ever told. If all goes according to plan, the first yogi may soon become animation’s next global icon.
