In a world of battle royales and puzzle clones, Studio Sirah is making a different kind of play. Founded in 2020 by brothers Abhaas and Prateek Shah, the Bengaluru-based studio is carving out a niche in mid-core gaming with a distinctly Indian soul. Their flagship title, Kurukshetra: Ascension, is a strategy-based collectible card game inspired by Indian epics like the Mahabharata. No guns. No bloodbaths. Just gods, warriors, and turn-based tactics drawn straight from centuries of storytelling.
The early numbers are promising. The game has clocked over 1.2 lakh organic downloads in beta, with a DAU/MAU ratio over 20% and session times hitting 25 minutes. That’s unusually sticky for a genre many Indian studios have struggled to monetize. In January 2023, Studio Sirah raised $2.6 million in a pre-Series A round led by Kalaari Capital, with backing from Lumikai. The goal: a global rollout of Kurukshetra and the launch of an even bigger second title.
Myth Meets Mechanics
What makes Studio Sirah stand out is its commitment to meaningful gameplay. These aren’t skinned clones with Indian names pasted on top. Each card in Kurukshetra is rooted in lore, each battle echoing philosophical tensions from the source epics. But this isn’t about nostalgia. The studio is reimagining mythology, not reproducing it, using game design to ask modern questions through ancient lenses. How do you wield power without losing dharma? How does ego shape your decisions in battle?
Unlike casual games that thrive on mindless engagement, Kurukshetra demands thought. That makes it a tougher sell, but a more enduring one.
Scaling Up with Culture
Indian gaming has largely been stuck in two extremes: hyper-casual clones or high-budget imports. Studio Sirah is trying to chart a third path; India-first in content, but world-class in quality. The founders believe that for Indian IP to thrive globally, the mythos needs to be accompanied by top-tier mechanics and visual polish. Their second title, currently in development, is rumored to be an action RPG with deeper character arcs and open-world elements.
A Bigger Battlefield
As India’s gaming market nears $3 billion, the demand for culturally relevant games is rising. But with it comes pressure to deliver not just scale, but substance. Studio Sirah’s bet is clear: Indian stories can go global if told through the right engines. And if Kurukshetra is any sign, the path to global gaming might just begin with a bow and arrow.
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