Sagar Pictures announces seven-film Shrimad Bhagavatam cinematic franchise

New Delhi: Sagar Pictures Entertainment has unveiled Shrimad Bhagavatam, a seven-part cinematic franchise inspired by the Bhagavata Purana, marking the studio’s entry into large-scale theatrical storytelling rooted in Indian mythology.

Announced on the occasion of Guru Purnima, also known as Vyasa Purnima, the project is being positioned as the studio’s first major theatrical franchise and the foundation of its long-term strategy to bring India’s ancient literary and spiritual works to global audiences through contemporary filmmaking.

The saga is conceived as the first complete cinematic adaptation of the Shrimad Bhagavatam in its authentic form. Spread across seven interconnected films, along with spin-offs and series, the franchise draws inspiration from the tradition of Bhagavata Saptaha, the seven-day recitation of the sacred text observed by devotees across India and abroad.

Attributed to Maharishi Ved Vyasa, the Bhagavatam spans nearly 18,000 verses across twelve Skandas and chronicles the life and teachings of Lord Krishna alongside the stories of several incarnations of Lord Mahavishnu. The films will explore themes of devotion, duty, morality and liberation while presenting both well-known and lesser-known episodes from the scripture.

According to the studio, the adaptation will feature cinematic interpretations of events including Lord Krishna’s childhood in Braja, the Rasa Leela, Gopi Gita, Samudra Manthan, the rise of the Suryavansh and Chandravansh dynasties, and the stories of avatars such as Matsya, Varaha and Narasimha. It will also depict narratives centred on devotees including Dhruva and Bharata, alongside events following the Great War of Hastinapur that have rarely been explored on screen.

Rather than following a single visual style, each instalment will adopt its own filmmaking approach, allowing the tone, scale and visual language to evolve with the story being told. The production will feature an international cast alongside Indian performers, with the studio aiming to balance textual authenticity with large-format cinematic storytelling.

The project has been developed by Amrit Sagar Chopra and Akash Sagar Chopra, who will also direct the first film. It is being produced by Sagar Pictures Global, with research guidance from Sri M and mentorship from Moti Sagar, who served as co-director of the landmark 1987 television series Ramayan.

Speaking on the announcement, Sagar Pictures Entertainment chief executive officer Akash Sagar Chopra said the Shrimad Bhagavatam is among India’s most expansive literary and spiritual works, offering enormous cinematic potential through its layered narratives and philosophical depth. He added that the studio aims to present the stories with authenticity, realism and a distinct visual identity for each chapter.

Production on the first instalment has already begun at Ramoji Film City, where principal photography was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Telangana. The film is being photographed by Joel Schaefer, while visual effects producer Clwyd Edwards has joined the project as executive producer.

Dedicated to the memory of Ramanand Sagar and Leela Sagar, the Shrimad Bhagavatam franchise marks a significant expansion of Sagar Pictures Entertainment’s ambitions. The studio said further details on the first film, including additional casting and production updates, will be announced in the coming months.