Hombale Films’ new animated biopic uses AI-powered movement capture to bring Srila Prabhupada’s 1965 journey to life, with a global theatrical release planned for August 2027. The film, titled Saranagati, focuses on the founder-ācārya of ISKCON and is being made with blessings from multiple spiritual institutions.
Hombale Films is stepping into uncharted territory — not just with subject matter, but with technology. The production house behind the KGF franchise, Salaar and Kantara has announced Saranagati – The Life of a Surrendered Soul, an animated biopic on His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupāda, the founder-ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
The film, set for a global theatrical release in August 2027, coincides with the auspicious occasion of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa-pūjā, a date deeply significant to followers. It traces his journey from India to the United States in 1965 at the age of 69, driven by the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and the directive of his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
The narrative centres on faith, surrender, perseverance and service, themes that define his mission to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness across the world. The project is being made in association with Transcendental Films and Dive Deep AI Studio, with Sridhar Shikaripura serving as Visual Director. Gaura Shakti Dasa writes and directs, while Rajesh Singh and Lohith Rao are listed as producers.
The film carries blessings from ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), Sri Narasingha Chaitanya Matha in Srirangapatna, and ISKCON Bangalore. What sets Saranagati apart isn’t just its spiritual subject, but its technical approach: it will use Artificial Intelligence Motion Capture technology. According to trade sources quoted by Bollywood Hungama, this method combines computer vision and AI to record human movements, gestures, facial expressions, body positions, via cameras, then maps them onto 3D animated characters.
The goal is to achieve lifelike motion and emotional authenticity in animation, a technique more commonly seen in high-end Western productions. This marks Hombale’s second foray into animation after Mahavatar Narsimha. But unlike that earlier effort, Saranagati aims to reach both devotees and younger audiences through a cinematic format rooted in Indian spiritual tradition yet built with cutting-edge tools.
Whether the blend of ancient devotion and modern tech will resonate beyond niche circles remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Hombale is no longer just backing pan-India hits. It’s crafting stories that demand new ways of seeing.
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