A film made on a shoestring budget of just 2 crore has stunned the industry with its earnings, and now 'Hanuman Ansh' has landed a major reward from the Uttarakhand government. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that the film, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, will be made tax-free in the state. He made the announcement on Friday, right after watching the film at a cinema hall in Dehradun along with his wife Geeta Dhami, cabinet colleagues and several MLAs.
What makes the story more striking is that director Vishal Chaturvedi recently revealed that no OTT platform had been willing to buy the film before its theatrical release. Yet everything changed once it hit cinemas. Within just 30 days of release, the film has collected more than 85 crore, and its daily box office numbers are now giving a tough fight to superstar Yash's film 'Toxic'.
CM Dhami praises the film on X
CM Dhami wrote on X praising 'Hanuman Ansh', calling it one of the select films that help showcase Uttarakhand's spiritual and cultural heritage to the country and the world. In his post, he said the film gives audiences a chance to understand Neem Karoli Baba's penance, sacrifice and spirit of service, along with his unwavering faith in Bajrangbali Hanuman. He added that Neem Karoli Baba devoted his entire life to serving humanity, social welfare and spiritual work.
Devotion is not just worship, it is also service
In a follow-up statement, CM Dhami said,
Devotion is not just a path of spiritual practice.He went on to explain that the life of Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj teaches that devotion must go hand in hand with service, dedication and human welfare. He congratulated the entire team of 'Hanuman Ansh' for creating such an inspiring and spiritual film, adding that Kainchi Dham has today become a major global centre of faith and devotion.
Who is Neem Karoli Baba, and what is the film's story
'Hanuman Ansh' has been written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi himself. The story follows a young man named Lakshmi Narayan, who is shattered by his mother's death and sets out on a spiritual journey in search of God. Seeking answers to questions of life, death and human suffering, he travels across parts of north India, and in the course of this journey transforms into the saint Neem Karoli Baba. He then dedicates the rest of his life to love, service, and touching the lives of countless people. The lead role has been played by Shobhit Satya, while Purnima Tiwari, Vihaan Shedge, Chandan Ke Anand and Anil Rastogi appear in key roles.
