Sagar Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has announced 'Shrimad Bhagavatam', a seven-part cinematic saga inspired by the Bhagavata Mahapurana, marking the studio's most ambitious theatrical franchise to date. The announcement was made on Guru Purnima (Vyasa Purnima), a date of deep significance in the Vaishnava tradition, when the sage Vyasa — credited with composing the Bhagavatam — is traditionally venerated.

What the Saga Will Cover

Conceived as the first complete cinematic adaptation of the Shrimad Bhagavatam, the project will unfold across seven interconnected films, supplemented by spin-offs and series. The saga will chronicle the life and teachings of Lord Krishna alongside the stories of multiple avatars of Lord Mahavishnu, with themes of devotion, spirituality, duty, and humanity's pursuit of liberation at its core.

Key episodes to be depicted include Lord Krishna's childhood in Braja, the Rasa Leela, Gopi Gita, and the Samudra Manthan. The films will also portray the avatars Matsya, Varaha, and Narasimha, as well as the narratives of devotees including Dhruva and Bharata.

The Creative Team Behind the Project

The saga is being developed and directed — for its first installment — by filmmakers Amrit Sagar Chopra and Akash Sagar Chopra, under the production banner Sagar Pictures Global. Spiritual teacher and Padma Bhushan awardee Sri M is guiding the project's research, lending scholarly and spiritual authority to the adaptation. Veteran filmmaker Moti Sagar, co-director of the iconic television series Ramayan (1987), is serving as mentor.

Cinematography is being handled by Joel Schaefer, while acclaimed visual effects producer Clwyd Edwards serves as executive producer — signalling a global production standard for the franchise.

Production Begins at Ramoji Film City

Principal photography for the first installment has commenced at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. The shoot was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Telangana, underlining the scale and official recognition the project has attracted. Further details on the first film are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Akash Sagar Chopra, CEO of Sagar Pictures Entertainment, said: 'The Shrimad Bhagavatam is one of India's greatest literary and spiritual works. Our ambition is to present these stories with complete accuracy, realism and cinematic scale while allowing every narrative to have its own visual identity.'

A Legacy Tribute and Long-Term Vision

The project is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Ramanand Sagar and Leela Sagar, the legendary figures behind India's most-watched mythological television productions. For Sagar Pictures Entertainment, 'Shrimad Bhagavatam' represents the beginning of a long-term vision to adapt India's ancient texts for the big screen — a franchise model that, if successful, could reshape how Indian mythological content is produced and consumed theatrically. Notably, this comes at a time when mythological and devotional content is seeing renewed audience appetite, following the box-office success of several faith-based Indian films in recent years.