Hanuman Ansh film’s success challenges Bollywood assumptions
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In India, the low-budget film Hanuman Ansh, inspired by the life of Neem Karoli Baba, has earned ₹236 crore worldwide despite a ₹2 crore production cost and limited initial promotion.
The film’s success has surprised the Hindi film industry, suggesting audiences may be seeking different kinds of stories than those typically offered by Bollywood.
Anupriya Nagar, a 21-year-old producer, invested her savings in the film due to her personal connection to Neem Karoli Baba, a 20th-century Hindu spiritual teacher and devotee of Hanuman. Neem Karoli Baba emphasized simple spiritual practices like love, service, and remembering God, attracting a diverse following including American figures like Ram Dass, Larry Brilliant, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, who visited his ashram in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, a region in northern India.
His ashram, Kainchi Dham, offers a retreat from modern distractions, focusing on community and service, and hosts an annual event that feeds over 100,000 people. Hanuman Ansh portrays the spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba, focusing on themes of devotion and selfless service rather than miracles or complex philosophy.
Pavan K Varma, the author of the article, believes the film resonates with a contemporary spiritual hunger, as young people seek meaning beyond material success and ask questions about purpose and happiness. He credits the film’s authenticity, stemming from the makers’ genuine belief in the subject, as a key to its unexpected success, and encourages the film industry to recognize the diverse desires of Indian audiences.
