Krishnavataram Part 1: Hridayam hit cinemas on May 7, 2026, marking the first chapter of a planned Lord Krishna trilogy. The film, which explores Krishna’s life, relationships and teachings, is now gearing up for a global theatrical release through The Art of Living, led by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Krishnavataram trilogy to reach global audiences
After its theatrical release in India, Krishnavataram: Part 1 – Hridayam is set to reach audiences across international markets through The Art of Living. The collaboration was officially announced by the World Forum for Art and Culture (WFCA) and Raj Kurup’s Creativelands.
The initiative aims to introduce audiences around the world to Krishna’s story through a contemporary cinematic approach while retaining the philosophical and artistic traditions at the heart of the narrative.
More about Krishnavataram Part 1: Hridayam
Krishnavataram: Part 1 – Hridayam (The Heart) begins in the present day, following a skeptical young man who visits the Jagannath Temple in Puri. There, he encounters a mysterious storyteller who begins narrating the life of Lord Krishna and explores the different dimensions of love reflected through his relationships with Radha, Rukmini and Satyabhama.
The narrative then shifts to the past, tracing Krishna’s journey from Vrindavan and his bond with Radha to his later life as the King of Dvārakā. The film explores his relationships with Rukmini and Satyabhama, alongside the events surrounding the Syamantaka jewel and Narakasura.
As Krishna’s journey approaches its final chapter, Dvārakā begins to sink. Krishna keeps his promise to Radha by playing his flute one final time, while Satyabhama reunites with him, bringing their respective stories of love to a conclusion.
The narrative eventually returns to the present. Deeply moved by the story, the young man discovers that the real priest has only just arrived and that the mysterious storyteller has disappeared. All that remains is a peacock feather, leading him to realise that the person who narrated Krishna’s story to him was none other than Krishna himself.
Krishnavataram Part 1 cast and crew
Siddharth Gupta plays the lead role in the film, alongside Sanskruti Jayana, Sushmitha Bhat, Nivaashiyni Krishnan, Jantee Hazarika, Karthik Jayaram, Amanjot Singh, Smrithi Srikanth, Apeksha Shetty, Akshara Shivakumar, Samadh Choudhary, Maharshi Dave and others in key roles.
The film has been co-written and directed by Hardik Gajjar and is based on Raam Mori’s 2025 novel Satyabhama.
The story is planned as a trilogy, with the next installments titled Krishnavataram: Part 2 – Manaha (The Mind) and Part 3 – Atman (The Soul).
With The Art of Living now associated with its international rollout, Krishnavataram Part 1: Hridayam is set to introduce its interpretation of Lord Krishna’s story to audiences across the globe.
