Hanuman Ansh Review: A sincere and soulful portrayal Neem Karoli Baba’s spiritual journey
Hanuman Ansh Rating: 3.5 Stars
Watched Hanuman Ansh movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Shobhinaw Satyaa, Chandan Anand, Anil Rastogi, Sugandha Malhotra, Bhagvandas Patel and Neha Paranjpe
Director: Vishal Chaturvedi
Release Date: 7th August 2026 in cinemas
Story: Set in pre-Independent India, film begins with a child named Laxminarayan (Vihaan Shedge) who quits the material world and sets out on a journey towards spiritual salvation. He loved only one person in his life, and that was his mother. After she dies, he wishes to get hold of Lord Ram ji so that he can meet his mother again.
To get to Ram Ji, he must get to Hanuman ji first. However, he soon gains spiritual powers and knowledge and begins helping the poor and needy. His chamatkars and blessings give him the stature of God, and he eventually settles in Neem Karori, where he gets a new name: Neem Karori Baba (Shobhinaw Satyaa). He lives in a cave and starts solving the problems of villagers. The rest of the film follows his life in Neem Karori and the turns his spiritual journey takes later.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Dialogues
3. Music
4. Direction
5. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Cinematography
3. Uneven Screenplay
4. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film plan to watch it on its release date as liked the trailer but it looked like an OTT material so thought to watch it once released on OTT but its popularity and divine power forced me to watch this one in theatre. The first film follows the early life of young boy Lakshmi Narayan, in pre-Independence India, who leaves home after the death of his mother in search of God, and his subsequent journey through Northern India and transformation into Neem Karoli Baba
Hanuman Ansh serves as the first instalment of a trilogy, it is based on his book “Divine Detour: That Changed My Life”, based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba. It is not a film built around spectacle. Instead, it takes a quieter route to tell the spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba, focusing on faith, devotion, compassion and selfless service. Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film attempts to bring the life and teachings of the revered spiritual figure to the big screen with simplicity rather than grandeur. The film’s biggest strength is its sincerity. It doesn’t try to turn its protagonist into a conventional larger-than-life cinematic hero. The emphasis remains on his spiritual transformation and his devotion to Lord Hanuman. It succeeds in creating a peaceful and introspective atmosphere. Its message about faith, compassion and serving others gives the story relevance beyond its devotional setting. The film may not appeal equally to audiences looking for conventional commercial entertainment, but for viewers interested in spirituality, devotional cinema or the life of Neem Karoli Baba, it offers a sincere and meaningful experience. The film has no big budget or major stars, but it is made with immense faith. I wonder how the makers actually managed to make such a decent film on a low budget and still make it look so graceful cinematically. It proves that big sets and huge budgets are not compulsory; the faith of the filmmaker and his vision can sometimes be far more powerful. Movie will surely leave Karoli Baba’s devotees mesmerized, and that seems to be translating into box office numbers too now. That’s indeed good news.
Shobhinaw Satyaa delivers a restrained and effective performance as Baba. His portrayal works particularly well because it avoids unnecessary dramatics and allows the character’s silence and simplicity to do much of the work. Chandan Anand and Anil Rastogi are fine in their roles, while Purnima Tiwari is superb. Neha Paranjpe also looks brilliant in her part. The supporting performances are adequate, although the film clearly belongs to its central character. The film has many truly mesmerizing moments that will bring tears to your eyes. It can make you feel happy, peaceful and emotionally fulfilled. That British officer’s train scene, for instance, works beautifully. Then there is the scene with the barber. That Kadhi Chawal sequence is a tearful experience and is so full of heart. By the time the movie ends, you’ll probably start chanting Sitaram and Jai Hanuman without any instructions. It has that kind of impact despite its low budget and limited scale.
However, the film is not without flaws. Where the film struggles are pacing. At times, the narrative moves along a single track and becomes repetitive, making the journey feel longer than necessary. The screenplay has some strong moments, but it could have benefited from tighter editing and greater dramatic variation. The cinematography is average, while the editing could have been a little better, especially in the second half. The visual effects are below par, which is understandable given the low production cost. There are a few, but strong negative points. The lack of popular faces and low promotions hamper the movie like a curse. Apart from Satyaa, no other actors leave such an impression that stays with you even after the movie ends. The music is below-the-mark. Krishna Das’ famous bhajan as BGM saves the film. The set design, of pre-Independent India, at times, looks cartoonish. Well, the makers have made the film on a very limited budget, facing hurdles, so we can ignore that, but the sluggish first half often bores you.
Overall, movie is simple, sincere and spiritually engaging. Its filmmaking has limitations, particularly in pacing, but the emotional journey of Neem Karoli Baba remains the film’s strongest aspect. It may not be perfect as a cinematic feat, but it’s certainly a very fine and divine experience for those who believe in God and, especially, in Neem Karoli Baba. My view on this film Highly Recommended.
For more Movies and Cricket updates visit my page on Facebook Durgesh Tiwary’s View and website Cricket Movie Website