Indian Epics Go Global
Sagar Pictures Unveils Global Studio and Shrimad Bhagavatam Cinematic Franchise
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Key Points
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Shrimad Bhagavatam is envisioned as a seven-part cinematic franchise designed for premium large-format screens, described as SPE’s inaugural live-action feature within a seven-chapter arc, and currently in production.
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The Bhagavatam adaptation is a live-action feature based on the Bhagavata Purana, centering on Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu, with cosmology, genealogy and mythology integrated into the storytelling.
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SPE envisions a global IP empire spanning films, gaming, music, consumer products, immersive experiences and theme parks, using Shrimad Bhagavatam as the anchor for multi-format franchises.
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Indian epics offer built-in advantages for IP development, with no rights holder to pay off, a trait SPE highlights as potentially easing cross-format licensing, merchandise and platform expansions.
Sagar Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is launching a full-scale global studio business, anchored by a seven-part cinematic franchise based on the Shrimad Bhagavatam, according to Variety. The Mumbai-based studio is moving well beyond its roots in film and TV production into an IP-led empire spanning gaming, music, consumer products, immersive experiences, and theme parks.
CEO Akash Sagar Chopra says the goal is to turn India's mythological stories into "world-class franchises" that live across multiple formats and geographies. The push comes on the back of SPE's seven-decade legacy, which includes the landmark TV series Ramayan.
Shrimad Bhagavatam as a Seven-Part Cinematic Franchise
The Shrimad Bhagavatam film series is SPE's flagship project and currently in production, according to Variety. The franchise is designed as a seven-chapter arc built for premium large-format screens. It is SPE's first live-action feature of this scale.
The story draws from the Bhagavata Purana, one of Hinduism's most revered texts. It centers on Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu. The narrative weaves together cosmology, genealogy, and mythology into a single epic arc across all seven films.
SPE's Marvel-Style Bet on Indian Mythology IP
SPE's strategy mirrors the Marvel and Disney model of building a shared universe across platforms, Variety reported. The studio wants interconnected stories and experiences that go far beyond cinema. Target formats include gaming, music, merchandise, immersive experiences, and eventually theme parks.
Chopra frames the move as a deliberate transformation. He wants SPE to become a global entertainment brand, not just a production house. The studio is actively pursuing global collaborations to support that vision, according to Variety.
No Rights Holder: Indian Epics' Built-In IP Advantage
One key edge SPE highlights is that Indian epics like the Bhagavata Purana are in the public domain. There is no rights holder to pay off. That makes cross-format licensing, merchandise deals, and platform expansions far simpler and cheaper than adapting privately owned IP.
Industry observers note this is a significant structural advantage. Studios building on Western IP often pay hundreds of millions in licensing fees. SPE can invest that money directly into production quality, global marketing, and franchise expansion instead, according to Variety.
Seven Decades of Heritage Fuel a Future-Focused Pivot
SPE's history gives it a strong foundation for this leap. The studio produced Ramayan, one of India's most-watched TV series ever. That legacy built deep audience trust around mythological storytelling, according to Variety.
Now SPE is betting that same cultural trust can scale globally. Chopra describes the move as rooted in Indian culture and heritage but built for a worldwide audience. The Shrimad Bhagavatam franchise is the first test of whether that bet will pay off.
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