Family, duty, and rivalry—this is the story of the Mahabharata, one of India’s oldest and most well-known Hindu epics.

To take viewers on a visual journey through the legendary pages, FableVision Studios partnered with PEM to animate an abridged re-telling of the epic as part of PEM’s South Asian Art gallery. This larger than life visual narrative is currently projected on a gallery wall and featured on pem.org.

The longest epic in existence, the Mahabharata is the source of stories and teachings that have been part of life in India for 2,000 years. It tells the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas, two families born of the same blood. Their legendary conflict is one that is morally grey, with heroes and villains on both sides.

To tell this story, FableVision worked closely with PEM’s team. Siddhartha V. Shah, Director of Education and Civic Engagement and Curator of South Asian Art, closely assisted in the condensing of the Mahabharata. FableVision writers created a script and sectioned the story into three major parts: the creation of the Pandava and Kaurava families, the development of their struggle for sovereignty, and the great battle between them. In each of those three sections were highlighted, important moments that ultimately led to the massacre of the Kauravas. The animation begins with author Vyasa, who unfolds the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas as they struggle to reconcile jealousy and rivalries that comes to a head in a grand battle. As Vyasa tells the story to the Hindu deity of beginnings, Ganesha, the epic comes to life before our very eyes.

The animated epic appears alongside paintings by Maqbool Fida (M. F.) Husain, one of India’s best-known modern artists. Initial inspiration for the artwork's direction was drawn straight from Husain's body of work on the Mahabharata. His compositions and imagery held such energy and intensity that would translate beautifully into animation. To introduce Husain's work and additional pieces inspired by his vision, FableVision wove elements of the prolific artists’ paintings into the animation and worked with subject matter experts and curators from the museum to create a compelling and poignant animated homage. The exhibit features works inspired by Husain’s vision of the Mahabharata, alongside paintings, sculptures, and other historical materials that showcase India's long and layered history.