Anand Gandhi’s MAYA: Seed Takes Root takes NYCC by storm, ignites global sci-fi fandom

Filmmaker Anand Gandhi commands New York Comic Con with Maya

At this year's New York Comic Con (NYCC), filmmaker Anand Gandhi left a lasting impression with his ambitious sci-fi fantasy project MAYA: Seed Takes Root, which attracted enormous crowds and glowing attention.

Gandhi brought the MAYA universe to life alongside co-creator Zain Memon, transforming the convention floor into a celebration of creativity, imagination, and narrative.

It was an electrifying response. The MAYA booth was surrounded by thousands of fans, many of whom patiently stood in long lines to meet Gandhi, purchase exclusive merchandise, and get a firsthand look at the expanding universe.

Some even showed up dressed as Maya mythological figures, such as the enigmatic Rakshasis or the human-like Manushyas, demonstrating that the project is already gaining a devoted following before its formal launch.

During the weekend, Gandhi also took part in a packed panel discussion moderated by Emmy Award-winning CNN anchor Omar Jimenez, where he introduced audiences to the vast MAYA universe — a world where sentient trees serve as a living internet, immortal beings harvest human data, and one rebel threatens to upend it all.

The film’s trailer played across the convention centre, reaching nearly 200,000 attendees, making MAYA one of the most visible and talked-about titles at NYCC.

Also Read: 'Jurassic World: Chaos Theory' season 4 trailer unveiled at New York Comic Con

Another significant turning point in MAYA's incredible international journey has been reached with the success at NYCC. Gandhi and Memon presented the project to the global sci-fi community at Worldcon 2025 in Seattle earlier this year, and it was well received.

At the same time, MAYA opened The Independence Project exhibition at IFBE Mumbai, wowing visitors with breathtaking concept art and speculative architecture from its world, planet Neh. The momentum carried through to LA Comic Con, where packed audiences signalled that MAYA had already evolved into a full-blown cultural movement.

Created by Anand Gandhi (Tumbbad, Ship of Theseus) and award-winning designer Zain Memon (SHASN, AZADI), MAYA has been described as a story that combines philosophy, science, and emotion into one deeply human narrative.

Its success goes beyond expectations; its Kickstarter campaign raised the most money for a first novel in the history of crowdfunding. MAYA: Seed Takes Root, narrated by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings), is scheduled to be released in early 2026, signalling the start of what many predict will be a seminal sci-fi story of the decade.