The journey of Neem Karoli Baba is now moving towards the cinema screen. Having achieved a box office total in India of more than Rs 63 crores, Hanuman Ansh is set to be shown in international theatres, with Hombale Films taking care of its distribution abroad from September 11.
The film was written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and is based upon the life of Neem Karoli Baba, who was also known as Maharaj-ji. Being regarded by his followers as an incarnation of Lord Hanuman, the spiritual teacher was famous for his teachings concerning love, devotion and service. His influence increased greatly in the 1960s and 1970s, since at that time many Western spiritual seekers went to India in order to find teachers and alternative philosophies.
The story of Hanuman Ansh centres on Maharaj-ji and his spiritual legacy, closely linking Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand with the narrative. This is a matter which has a rather unique cultural presence; Maharaj-ji's name has been passed on in the accounts of the people who came across his teachings as well as in the stories of those who visited Kainchi Dham.
Steve Jobs was one of the people connected with that story and had gone to India in 1974 in the hope of finding spiritual guidance; although he had planned to meet Maharaj-ji, the guru had died shortly before Jobs arrived. Mark Zuckerberg too has mentioned that he visited Kainchi Dham when he was in India. Actor Julia Roberts has talked about how the image of Maharaj-ji has influenced her spiritual life. The ashram in India has also drawn in other visitors, including Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma.
The overseas release of the film has been given some background by its theatrical numbers, with it reportedly opening at about Rs 10 lakh and having made Rs 63.82 crore by its 26th day in India. The film's performance after the opening has been due to the audience's reaction and word of mouth, especially since the film is based on a spiritual theme rather than conventional commercial cinema.
The fact that Hombale Films is involved represents a notable change in the company's most recent overseas distribution programme. The company has previously been linked with films such as KGF, Kantara and Salaar, all of which achieved wide distribution because of their commercial scale and appeal within their genre. In contrast, Hanuman Ansh comes from a completely different area by taking a biographical and devotional subject into international cinemas.
The launch of the September 11 release will show how well that story resonates with audiences in markets where Maharaj-ji is already known, especially within Indian communities and those who are familiar with his connection to Kainchi Dham.