Film Production
Abundantia writes a new script with AI in the director’s chair
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, algorithm! Storytelling just got a digital co-writer as Vikram Malhotra’s Abundantia Entertainment takes a bold leap into the future with its brand-new division Abundantia aiON, dedicated to creating and producing stories powered by artificial intelligence.
With a mission as cinematic as its name, aiON is built on one simple but stirring philosophy “Human First. AI Empowered.” The idea? To prove that technology can fuel imagination, not flatten it. The new division aims to bring together the best of human creativity and machine intelligence to craft films, series, characters and universes that stretch beyond traditional boundaries.
“AI isn’t here to replace creativity, it’s here to magnify it,” says Abundantia Entertainment founder and CEO Vikram Malhotra “We want storytellers to think beyond the possible and tell stories that are emotionally richer, visually bolder, and globally relevant. We see AI as the ultimate collaborator, a force multiplier for human imagination.”
Abundantia aiON will harness cutting-edge AI tools across ideation, world-building, visual development and production, working hand-in-hand with top tech platforms and creative talent. But at its core, the division remains committed to human authorship every story will begin with a human creator, a distinct voice and an original point of view.
The new wing also aims to create opportunities for talent, not replace them. Writers, artists and filmmakers will be upskilled in next-generation storytelling, learning to use AI as a creative accelerator rather than competition.
The announcement follows Abundantia’s recent partnership with Collective Artists Network to produce Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, touted as India’s first Made-In-AI feature film, set for theatrical release in 2026. The new film is already making waves for its audacious ambition to blend mythology, emotion and machine learning in one frame.
And this is just the beginning. The studio is gearing up to announce aiON’s first slate of projects soon, promising a lineup that fuses cutting-edge innovation with cinematic soul.
The move adds another chapter to Abundantia’s growing repertoire of daring originals, which includes upcoming titles like Subedaar, an action drama directed by Suresh Triveni and starring Anil Kapoor; Daldal, an Amazon Original led by Bhumi Pednekar; an untitled comedy headlined by Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durga and Ravi Kishan; and a business drama directed by Hansal Mehta.
For a studio known for redefining Indian storytelling, aiON marks a new age of cinematic creation where art meets algorithm, and every story begins with a spark of human imagination, amplified by a pulse of artificial intelligence.
Because in Abundantia’s next act, it’s not man versus machine, it’s man plus machine.
Film Production
Arka Mediaworks onboards 88 Pictures as animation studio partner on ‘The Eternal War – Part 1’
Arka Mediaworks announces that 88 Pictures, the acclaimed animation and visual storytelling studio known for its cutting-edge CGI and cinematic artistry, is on board as the animation partner for the highly anticipated Baahubali: The Eternal War, a groundbreaking two-part 3D animated feature film set in the globally beloved Baahubali universe.
Baahubali: The Eternal War represents a bold new chapter in the Baahubali saga envisioned for national and international audiences and crafted with the ambition of delivering one of India’s most ambitious and globally benchmarked animation projects to date.
88 Pictures will execute the animation production, bringing to life the film’s richly detailed worlds, epic battle sequences, and larger-than-life characters with its signature blend of artistic vision, performance-driven animation, and advanced production pipelines. Working closely with the film’s creative leadership and technical partners, the studio aims to set new benchmarks in animation quality, cinematic storytelling, and global scalability.
This animated epic follows the successful re-release of Baahubali: The Epic (the combined theatrical version of the original live-action films) on 31 October 2025 across India and the USA. During the film’s interval, legendary creator and director S.S. Rajamouli (Baahubali 1 & 2, RRR) stunned audiences with a surprise teaser for The Eternal War – Part 1. The video immediately went viral, garnering widespread national and international acclaim across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for its ambitious visual style and scale.
Produced by Arka Mediaworks and led by co-founder and CEO Shobu Yarlagadda – producer of the iconic Baahubali duology, The Eternal War brings together fantastic storytelling and cutting-edge animation.. The film is directed and written by acclaimed animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla (Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Star Wars: Visions – “The Bandits of Golak”) and screenplay by Scott Mosier (The Grinch). Mihira Visual Labs, the studio co-founded by Yarlagadda anchors the film’s animation, visual development, and execution.
The partnership with 88 Pictures brings significant pedigree to the project; the studio is well-regarded for its work on high-profile international titles including DreamWorks’ series Trollhunters, the HBO Max original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Disney’s animated short An Almost Christmas Story to name a few.
Yarlagadda shared, “We are happy to onboard 88 Pictures as the animation studio partner for our prestigious and most expensive animated film from India. We believe that their expertise and capabilities will allow us to produce a first-of-its-kind, world-class animated feature film from India.”
88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind D. Shinde said, “Baahubali changed the way cinema is perceived and became a defining milestone that turned the tide for Indian live-action filmmaking. Expanding the franchise into an entirely new universe—at a never-seen, never-done scale—through an animated feature created in India for a global audience is set to redefine how the world views Indian animation. We are truly thrilled to be part of this landmark project and to bring it to life under the visionary direction of Ishan Shukla, guided by the experience and leadership of acclaimed producer Shobu Yarlagadda.”
Shukla expressed, “Eternal War requires a level of visual and emotional precision that can only come from teams who truly understand both craft and intent. Working with 88 Pictures, alongside Mihira Visual Labs, has been a deeply collaborative experience. This association brings together technical excellence and creative sensitivity, enabling us to translate an ambitious vision into a compelling cinematic reality.”
Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 is scheduled for release in 2027
