The devotional cinema wave is set to rise with 11 upcoming films, including Nitesh Tiwari's epic 'Ramayana,' Vishal Chaturvedi's 'Hanuman Ansh,' and Amar Kaushik's 'Mahavatar,' showcasing mythological tales, spiritual journeys, and cultural legacies. These films promise to blend faith, storytelling, and cinematic grandeur, captivating audiences with timeless narratives and devotion-driven themes.
For decades, faith-led stories lived on regional circuits, festival-season slots and television, often treated as modest ventures with a loyal but limited audience. That perception is changing.
The devotional films genre now draws families who might otherwise skip a theatre visit, and carries a built-in advantage too: familiar stories, shared reverence and a ready word-of-mouth network that runs from temples and community groups to homes across the country.
Advances in animation and visual effects have made epics easier to stage at scale without the budgets once required, and producers have noticed that a devotional release can win audiences across languages and age groups. For viewers, the pull is as much emotional as religious: reassurance, nostalgia and the chance to watch something with elders and children together.
The clearest proof is Hanuman Ansh, which opened on only 250 screens in August on a budget reported to be under ₹2 crore and grew into a box-office success through word of mouth. The next big test arrives this week with Nitesh Tiwari's epic Ramayana: Part One, that opens in international markets on November 5. Along with Ramayana and Hanuman Ansh, here are 11 other devotional films shaping the next wave of the genre.
Perhaps the most eagerly-awaited films this year, and a soon-to-be-witnessed theatrical spectacle, with Ramayana, Nitesh Tiwari will bring a mythological epic to the screen, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The two-part epic centers on the intensifying conflict between Lord Ram and Ravana as Ravana declares himself as the new ruler of the heavens, earth and the underworld.
Produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios together with DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, the film stars an ensemble cast, featuring Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Anupam Kher as the voice of the mythic vulture demigod Jatayu, and more. Ramayana will release in theatres on November 5.
This year, Vishal Chaturvedi’s spiritual drama Hanuman Ansh took the box office by storm, and no one saw it coming. Performing sensational numbers upon its release, the film follows Lakshmi Narayan, a young man who embarks on a spiritual journey after the death of his mother and eventually becomes the revered Neem Karoli Baba (Shobhinaw Satyaa).
Produced by Mahaveer Jain, the film stars Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey and Bhagvandas Patel in prominent roles. The film released on August 7, 2026.
In Amar Kaushik’s upcoming Mahavatar, Vicky Kaushal stars as Chiranjeevi Parashurama (Lord Parashurama), the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the warrior of dharma. Written by Niren Bhatt and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film will go on floors in January 2027.
This year in Septemer, Trisha Studios announced its upcoming feature film Krishna Avatar Shri Ramdev Pir, based on the spiritual legacy, life and enduring devotion of Shri Ramdev Pir, the 14th-century Hindu diety.
While further details regarding the cast, director, crew and other members of the production are yet to be revealed by the makers, the film is produced by Tilok Kothari with Sagar Kothari as the project head and Kiran Shergill as the creative head. It is set for a 2027 worldwide release.
After Vishal Chaturvedi’s Hanuman Ansh bagged impressive figures at the box office this year, the director is already thinking about his next big directorial with Ram Bola.
The devotional biography traces the extraordinary life and legacy of Hindu saint, devotee and poet Goswami Tulsidas, following his evolution into this form and the lasting influence of his spiritual and literary legacy on Indian culture and literature. Ram Bola was announced in September this year and is produced by Chaturvedi, Mahaveer Jain, Raghuvendra Singh and Amit Upadhyay under the banner of Mahaveer Films.
Directed by Akash Sagar Chopra and Amrit Sagar Chopra, the film is the first chapter in a seven-part cinematic saga inspired by the Srimad Bhagvatam Purana, one of Hinduism's eighteen most crucial Mahapuranas (major ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts).
Set to release in 2027, the devotional film will bring to the screen the stories of Lord Krishna, the avatars of Lord Mahavishnu and the journey of devotion, humanity, faith and the connection between god and man. Shrimad Bhagavatam Part I: Vishnurata is slated for a 2027 release.
The devotional biopic anchors on the life, philosophy and teachings of Sant Guru Ravidas, the 14th-century Indian saint-poet and social reformer of the Bhakti Movement (a social and religious movement in medieval India that stressed on personal devotion to god over social stratification and rituals).
The film, made in both Hindi and Chhattisgarhi, traces his journey of surpassing the barriers of caste and creed to spread messages of compassion, devotion and equality. Directed by Abhishek Singh, who most recently directed the mythological feature Shree Ramayan Katha, the film will be released in 2027.
Karnika is inspired by the life and spiritual legacy of Goddess Karni Mata (the Hindu goddess of power and victory, worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga), and celebrates and brings to the screen her long-standing cultural significance. While the director and cast are still being finalised, the film was officially announced in October this year by T-Series and Kathavachak Films.
It is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Raaj Shaandilyaa, Vimal Lahoti and Niranjan Mundhra. Karnika is targeting a 2027 release.
Actor Ravi Kishan is set to headline this devotional film directed by Amit Aarryan. Audiences will witness Kishan veer into a space he has never before as he plays the role of a religious man from India’s heartland who forms a close bond with the divine, Bajrang Bali.
The film is jointly produced by Tarpack Stories and Mahaveer Jain Films, and producers Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, Vinayak Kumar, Kshitij Mehta, Anu Gurnani, Kavin Shah and Shikha K Ahluwalia. The devotional drama is slated for a Diwali 2027 release.
Directed by Rajesh Nair and written by Ampady K. Harivarasanam is an upcoming Malayalam devotional drama that is set against the backdrop of Sabarimala. The film follows a father, who upon losing his daughter’s trust, embarks on a journey that tests his beliefs and pushes him into the deep grey space between reason and faith. Through this arc, the film explores the themes of faith, spirituality and emotional bond between a father and his child, and the sacrifice to find oneself again.
Featuring Saiju Kurup, Namitha Pramod, Sudheer Karamana and Yogi Babu in lead roles, the film is jointly produced by Ajith Vinayaka under Ajith Vinayaka Films and Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak under Panorama Studios.
Harivarasanam is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on January 15, 2027.
In the second part of Sundar C’s devotional fantasy, Nayanthara reprises her titular role as goddess Mookuthi Amman.
She plays the dual role of a police officer who seems to be unnerved by ordinary everyday situations and the goddess Mookuthi Amman herself, a character she first portrayed in the 2020 film of the same name. The two roles intertwine when she is consumed by a threat that is beyond her control. Written by Sundar C and Venkat Raghavan and produced by Ishari K. Ganesh under the Vels Film International banner, the film also stars Regina Cassandra and Duniya Vijay in lead roles. Mookuthi Amman 2 releases on November 6, 2026.
After the massive success of Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1, Rishab Shetty is eyeing his next massive project in collaboration with director Prasanth Varma — a sequel to his 2024 Telugu superhero film HanuMan.
Jai Hanuman stars Shetty as Lord Hanuman and Wamiqa Gabbi as the leading lady whose character remains unknown. It will be presented by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. In a press note released in May this year, Varma said:
“The film is not just about the undying spirit of devotion and courage that Lord Hanuman embodies, but also a reminder that strength guided by faith can move mountains”, with Kumar also describing it as a “celebration of Indian cinema and timeless devotion.”
On August 19, the makers of Mangalmay Salasar unveiled its poster which shows two cows pulling a wooden chariot with a flag hoisted on top that reads, ‘Shree Balaji’.
The backdrop features a bright setting sun, orange skies and an army of men and women praying behind the chariot on the move. The poster reads, “Duniya ne aashirwad maanga… baba ne bhagwaan ko hi maang liya!” [The world asked for blessings… Baba asked for God himself!]. Set against the backgdrop of 18th century Rajasthan, the film unearths the extraordinary life of Baba Mohan Das Ji, a revered saint, devotee of Lord Hanuman and the founder of the sacred Salasar Balaji temple in Salasar, Rajasthan.
Written and directed by Aaryaan Saxena, produced by Running Horses Films and Aadyaa Studios, and co-produced by Emerald Owls, Mangalmay Salasar will arrive in theatres on August 19, 2017, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.