Prasanth Varma shares his passion for superhero films inspired by mythology and magic

'HanuMan' fame Prasanth Varma recently announced an exciting new project titled 'Mahakali', marking a significant milestone in Indian cinema as it will be the first female superhero film directed by a woman, Puja Aparna Kolluru. This film is part of Varma's ambitious Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), which is made out of taking inspiration from mythological and modern superhero stories.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, the director shared his passion for the superhero genre, despite him being told by others that these films are not commercial in India.

He said that he wanted to make superhero films all along. His storytelling would not be about traditional vigilante themes but would be about magic and mythology, too. He also mentioned that he always found Batman boring until Christopher Nolan took over. He used to think the character should not just be another vigilante but need some magic as well which makes it unique.

While growing up he was always interested in Indian mythology; hence, his stories are inspired by cultural uniqueness, working on them being rich with the themes of gods and legends. Finding it unique, he further adds. "If you have seen my first three films (Awe!, Kalki, Zombie Reddy), I’d never liked to repeat myself. But now that I’m stuck doing this, I might as well explore with the sub-genres of these stories."

The young director also stated that his film 'HanuMan' was like a Disney film but the others won't like another underdog story. He further expressed that he never wanted to direct any other film than 'HanuMan' from his superhero universe but feels responsible for delivering a good film with 'Jai Hanuman'.

'Mahakali' will be a film that challenges existing beauty standards in Indian cinema. The character of 'Mahakali' takes the fierce nature of the Goddess Kali and aims to present a bold portrayal of female strength and empowerment.

The film's announcement poster features a girl connecting with a tiger against a backdrop of chaos and a burning Ferris wheel.

The film is set in West Bengal and aims to tackle issues such as discrimination and identity reclamation, particularly focusing on the representation of darker-skinned individuals.