As Ranbir Kapoor gears up for Ramayana, the newest take on Indian mythology is a 5-minute AI film on the Bhagavad Gita

Just as you believed India’s fascination with mythology films had reached its height with Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana, Prabhas’ Adipurush (2023), and Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmāstra: Part One (2022), a surprising turn appears: a five-minute AI-driven VR short movie about the Bhagavad Gita. Indeed, you understood that correctly.

Filmmaker Ram Madhvani, widely recognized for Neerja (2016) and Aarya, is now venturing into immersive media with an ambitious new project that employs artificial intelligence and virtual reality to reimagine one of India’s most esteemed spiritual writings. Madhvani disclosed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that this short film — created discreetly over two years — is now being presented in exclusive previews. Although it lasts only five minutes, the project’s ambitions are anything but modest. It serves as a prototype for something much grander: Madhvani aims to eventually encompass all 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita and ultimately re-envision the complete Mahabharata in virtual reality.

For Madhvani, this goes beyond mythological themes — it’s about crafting a life-changing experience. He thinks that spiritual and philosophical stories possess a unique influence in the Indian mindset. The objective? Utilizing VR and AI to inspire an authentic sense of divinity in the audience — especially for younger individuals who might be spiritually inquisitive yet emotionally detached from traditional scriptures. He seeks to instill in the viewer a deep sense of divinity, an encounter he believes the younger generation could especially gain from.

However, this perspective extends beyond exclusive headsets or specialized tech gatherings. In an interview with AdGully, Madhvani disclosed his intention to bring VR experiences to temples and tourist attractions throughout India — envision witnessing the wonders of Shirdi Sai Baba or the building of the Taj Mahal via immersive visuals, directly at the actual sites. This marks a significant shift for a director recognized for heartfelt, realistic narratives that have earned him numerous accolades and global nominations. Yet, if there’s one skill Madhvani possesses, it’s transforming personal stories into something universal — and perhaps, even spiritual.