Indian yogi and mystic Sadhguru is teaming with Graphic India on “Shiva: The Adiyogi,” an animated feature retelling the origin story of Hindu God Shiva as the first yogi.
Sadhguru and Sharad Devarajan share story credit on the film.
Graphic India is the studio behind India’s animated mythology franchise “The Legend of Hanuman.” Devarajan, who co-created that series and co-founded Graphic India, is producing, co-writing and co-creating “Shiva: The Adiyogi.”
The film spans from before creation to the peaks of Kailash, taking in the rage of Veerabhadra, a being formed from grief, and the devotion of two women whose bond keeps Shiva connected to existence. It builds to a scene at Kanti Sarovar in which Shiva imparts 112 methods for transcending physical existence to seven seekers.
“In the yogic culture, Shiva is not seen as a God. For us, Shiva is the Adiyogi – the first yogi, and the Adiguru – the first guru. For the first time in the history of humanity, Shiva the Adiyogi introduced the idea that the simple laws of nature are not permanent restrictions. If one is willing to strive, one can go beyond all limitations and attain to liberation. Breaking the laws of physical nature is spiritual process. In this sense, we are outlaws, and Shiva is the ultimate outlaw,” said Sadhguru.
“This is the story of how wisdom itself was born, and why it was shared with humanity,” added Devarajan. “As a storyteller, there is no greater canvas, a cosmic love story, a tale of devastating loss, and action on a scale no epic has ever attempted. Armies of gods fall before a warrior born of pure grief. A blind conqueror storms the gates of heaven. A third eye opens and burns desire itself out of existence. And through all the fury and spectacle runs the most tender story imaginable, of the two women whose love was fierce enough to reach an infinite being, and the final gift he gave humanity because of them. To craft this story alongside Sadhguru, the defining voice of the Adiyogi in our time, is the greatest creative honor I could imagine.”
Sadhguru is also a bestselling author whose videos stream in 35 languages on social media. He founded the Isha Foundation, a nonprofit human-service organization, more than three decades ago; it is now supported by over 19 million volunteers worldwide.
Devarajan’s credits also include the “Baahubali” animated series, comprising “Baahubali: The Lost Legends” and “Baahubali: Crown of Blood,” and the co-creation of Pavitr Prabhakar, the Indian Spider-Man character for Marvel who appeared in the Oscar-nominated “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
“Shiva: The Adiyogi” is targeting a worldwide theatrical release. Jeevan J. Kang and Subrah S. Iyar serve as executive producers and Navin Miranda and Nayana Bijli as co-producers. Production is being led by Graphic India’s animation studio.
