By Hanuman Ansh is a 2026 Hindi devotional biographical drama directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, starring Shobhinaw Satyaa, Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K. Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi and Gulshan Pandey. The film tells the story of Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Maharaj-ji, tracing his spiritual journey and the encounters that shaped his life. The movie runs for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and was released in Telugu on October 9, 2026, following its earlier Hindi release.
The film has attracted attention for its devotional subject, sincere performances and spiritual message. Telugu reviews have generally appreciated its emotional moments and the lead actor’s portrayal, while noting that the episodic storytelling and slow pacing sometimes reduce its dramatic impact. This is a film aimed more at viewers interested in spirituality and the life of Neem Karoli Baba than those expecting a conventional commercial entertainer.
Story & Concept
The story begins in the early 20th century with Lakshminarayan Sharma, a young man whose personal experiences lead him to question ordinary life and search for deeper spiritual meaning. As he travels and encounters different people, his journey gradually transforms him into the revered spiritual figure known as Neem Karoli Baba.
The film explores faith, compassion, service and the search for truth. Rather than building its narrative around a conventional hero-versus-villain conflict, it follows a spiritual journey shaped by encounters, teachings and moments of personal transformation.
The concept has an inherent emotional and devotional appeal, although the episodic structure sometimes makes the story feel more like a series of incidents than one tightly connected cinematic narrative.
Performance
Shobhinaw Satyaa carries the film with a restrained performance as Lakshminarayan Sharma. Rather than relying entirely on dramatic expressions, he brings a calm presence to the character, helping communicate the spiritual journey at the centre of the story.
Chandan K. Anand is an important supporting presence as Dr. Ram Nandan Bhosale, whose perspective introduces a contrast between scientific reasoning and spiritual belief. The supporting cast helps bring the people and experiences surrounding the central character to life.
Screenplay & Direction
Director Vishal Chaturvedi approaches the subject with sincerity, focusing on the protagonist’s transformation and the values associated with Neem Karoli Baba.
The film’s strength lies in its devotional atmosphere and its effort to present spiritual ideas in an accessible way. However, the screenplay follows an episodic structure, and some portions lack the dramatic tension needed to maintain consistent engagement.
A more focused narrative with smoother transitions between major events could have made the film more compelling for a wider audience.
Spiritual & Emotional Elements
This is the heart of Hanuman Ansh. The film emphasises faith, compassion, humility, selflessness and service to others.
Its emotional moments are designed to encourage reflection rather than deliver conventional cinematic thrills. Viewers who connect with devotional stories may find its message meaningful, especially in scenes involving personal transformation and acts of kindness.
However, the emotional impact depends partly on the viewer’s interest in the subject. Some sequences could have benefited from more nuanced storytelling instead of relying primarily on the spiritual significance of the events.
Devotion & Message
The film presents Neem Karoli Baba’s life as a journey toward spiritual understanding, with devotion to Hanuman forming an important part of the narrative.
Its central message is that genuine spirituality should be reflected in compassion, service and the way people treat one another. The film attempts to communicate these values through the protagonist’s experiences rather than through action-driven storytelling.
Music & Cinematography
The music and background score support the devotional mood and help establish the emotional tone of important scenes. The cinematography adds to the film’s spiritual atmosphere, while the visual presentation supports its period setting.
The technical elements are generally effective, although the filmmaking remains relatively straightforward. More varied visual storytelling could have added greater cinematic energy to some of the longer sequences.
Pacing & Runtime
At approximately 150 minutes, Hanuman Ansh requires patience. Its episodic structure allows the story to explore several stages of the protagonist’s spiritual journey, but some episodes feel stretched.
The film may be more engaging when viewed as a devotional biography rather than a conventional dramatic entertainer. Tighter editing and more streamlined transitions would have improved its pace.
Climax & Overall Impact
The final portions bring the film’s spiritual themes together, emphasising faith, compassion and the lasting influence of a spiritual teacher.
The conclusion is likely to resonate most with viewers who appreciate devotional cinema. However, the slow narrative and limited dramatic build-up may leave audiences looking for a more powerful cinematic climax wanting more.
What Works
- Sincere portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba’s spiritual journey
- Shobhinaw Satyaa’s restrained central performance
- Strong devotional atmosphere
- Meaningful themes of compassion, faith and service
- Emotional moments that encourage reflection
- Supporting performances add depth to the story
- Suitable for audiences interested in spiritual biographies
What Doesn’t Work
- Slow pacing in several portions
- Episodic screenplay lacks consistent narrative momentum
- Some scenes feel stretched
- Limited dramatic tension
- Straightforward visual storytelling
- Emotional moments may not connect equally with all viewers
- Runtime could have been shorter
Final Verdict
Hanuman Ansh is a sincere devotional biographical drama that brings the spiritual journey of Neem Karoli Baba to the screen. Shobhinaw Satyaa’s performance, the film’s spiritual atmosphere and its message of compassion and selfless service are its major strengths.
However, the episodic screenplay and slow pacing prevent it from becoming a consistently engaging cinematic experience. The film is best suited to viewers who enjoy devotional biographies and stories about spiritual transformation.
For Telugu audiences, the film offers an opportunity to experience this spiritual story in their own language, with the understanding that it prioritises devotion and reflection over conventional commercial entertainment.
Overall Rating: 3/5
Story: ⭐⭐⭐½
Screenplay: ⭐⭐⭐
Performances: ⭐⭐⭐½
Direction: ⭐⭐⭐
Spiritual Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐½
Music: ⭐⭐⭐
Cinematography: ⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐½
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Verdict: Hanuman Ansh is an inspiring devotional drama with a sincere central performance and a meaningful spiritual message, though its slow pace and episodic storytelling make it a better fit for devotional audiences than mainstream moviegoers.
