Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Anand Gandhi on 'MAYA': New Mythology for 21st Century
Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon, known for films like Ship of Theseus and Tumbbad, are creating a new sci-fi fantasy universe called MAYA.
They want to explore big questions about how technology and systems shape our lives.
They built an entire planet with different species, technologies, and beliefs to tell their stories.
MAYA will be told through books, games, movies, and more.
They hope it becomes a shared mythology that people can add to and learn from.
It's like a big adventure that helps us understand the world better.
Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon are creating a new sci-fi fantasy universe called 'MAYA'.
MAYA explores questions about human agency and societal issues in a hyperconnected, AI-shaped world.
The project involves a team of over 200 artists and thinkers from around the world.
MAYA will be told through novels, games, films, and immersive experiences.
The first book in the MAYA universe crossed $423,000 in pre-orders in its first month.
- Who
- Filmmakers Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon
- What
- Launching a new sci-fi fantasy universe called 'MAYA'
- When
- Ongoing, with significant work done over the past four years
- Where
- Global collaboration, with a team from around the world
- Why
- To create a new mythology that addresses modern challenges and questions about human agency and societal issues
- Directors
- Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon
- Genre
- Sci-fi fantasy
- Inspirations
- The Matrix, Solaris, 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Team Size
- Over 200 artists and thinkers
- Pre-orders
- $423,000 in first month
- Platforms
- Novels, games, films, immersive experiences
- Duration
- Ongoing, expected to evolve for years