Hanuman Ansh Movie Review: Is the Neem Karoli Baba Spiritual Biopic Worth Watching?

Spiritual and biographical films have always had a special place in Indian cinema, especially when they tell the story of personalities whose teachings continue to influence millions of people. Hanuman Ansh attempts something similar by bringing a cinematic interpretation of the life and teachings of Shri Neeb Karori Baba, widely known as Neem Karoli Baba, to theatres.

Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the Hindi spiritual drama was released theatrically across India on July 31, 2026. The cast includes Shobhina W Satyaa, Vihaan S Hegde, Chandan Anand, Purnima Tiwari and Anil K. Rastogi, among others.

But does Hanuman Ansh work only for devotees, or does it also succeed as a movie?

Here is my complete Hanuman Ansh movie review.

What Is Hanuman Ansh About?

Hanuman Ansh is inspired by the extraordinary spiritual journey and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, one of India's widely revered spiritual figures and a devoted follower of Lord Hanuman. Rather than functioning strictly as a conventional biopic, the film uses different incidents from his life to explore faith, compassion, humility and service to humanity.

The movie follows his spiritual journey and presents various situations that shaped his life and beliefs.

For viewers who have heard about Kainchi Dham or seen people travelling to Neem Karoli Baba's ashram but never explored his story in detail, the movie can be particularly interesting.

That curiosity was one of the main reasons the film worked for me.

After watching it, I also wanted to learn more about the real incidents associated with Neem Karoli Baba.

The Film's Biggest Strength: Its Spiritual Stories

One of the strongest aspects of Hanuman Ansh is the way different incidents are woven into the larger narrative.

Instead of depending on one dramatic conflict, the movie takes us through several smaller episodes from Baba's spiritual journey.

These individual stories keep the film engaging while gradually revealing his personality, beliefs and relationship with the people around him.

There is simplicity in the storytelling.

The filmmakers do not constantly jump between confusing timelines or complicated narrative structures. The story moves in a relatively straightforward direction, making it easy for almost any viewer to understand.

If you enjoy simple spiritual dramas rather than fast-paced commercial cinema, this approach may appeal to you.

Real Locations Add Authenticity

Another aspect I appreciated was the use of natural and realistic-looking locations.

Forests, rural surroundings and various outdoor settings help create the raw atmosphere required for this kind of story.

For a movie dealing with a spiritual personality from another period, authenticity becomes extremely important.

The locations, costumes, makeup and production design together help establish that environment.

There are certainly moments where visual effects are used, but whenever the movie depends on real surroundings, it becomes much more convincing.

Folk Music and Regional Language Are Major Highlights

The music deserves special appreciation.

Rather than giving the film a completely modern Bollywood sound, the makers incorporate regional influences into the songs and background score.

Traditional instruments and folk-inspired compositions give the movie a more rooted identity.

For me, the soundtrack is easily one of the film's strongest departments.

The regional language used during several moments also adds authenticity instead of making every character sound artificially polished.

It helps create the feeling that we are watching a story emerging from a particular place, culture and period rather than a generic studio production.

Performances Keep the Film Grounded

The cast performs well overall.

However, the portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba stands out the most.

There is an effort to capture not only the physical appearance associated with Baba but also his simplicity and calmness.

When compared with photographs available of Neem Karoli Baba, the visual resemblance makes the character easier to accept on screen.

The performance does not depend entirely on dramatic speeches either.

Some of the most effective moments arrive during simple conversations.

Guru-Shishya Conversations Are Beautifully Written

Another highlight is the dialogue between the guru and disciple.

These conversations are not overloaded with complicated philosophical language.

Instead, many of them remain simple and accessible.

That simplicity works because spiritual ideas often become more effective when communicated without unnecessary complexity.

Several such scenes leave behind thoughts about devotion, humanity, faith and our behaviour toward others.

This is also where Hanuman Ansh becomes more than just a biography.

It tries to communicate the philosophy behind the person.

Where Hanuman Ansh Disappoints

Unfortunately, the movie is not without flaws.

The biggest problem is pacing.

The screenplay could have been tighter.

Several portions could have been shortened without damaging the story. A more disciplined edit might have made the overall experience considerably stronger.

This becomes important because spiritual dramas already operate at a slower rhythm. When scenes are extended unnecessarily, the audience may begin to feel the runtime.

AI and CGI Needed More Polish

The second weakness is the visual-effects department.

There are moments where AI-generated imagery or CGI becomes noticeable, and on a large theatre screen those imperfections are difficult to ignore.

Some sequences simply do not have the level of realism expected from modern theatrical visual effects.

The train sequence, in particular, could have benefited from significantly more polishing.

This becomes slightly distracting because the scenes filmed in real locations look much more convincing.

Moving between natural footage and weaker digital imagery sometimes breaks the immersion.

Some Scenes Feel Like Television Drama

There is also a smaller filmmaking issue involving reaction shots.

During conversations involving multiple characters, the camera sometimes repeatedly returns to similar facial reactions from the same characters.

Showing a reaction once or twice is effective.

Repeating it too often starts giving certain scenes a television-serial feeling and slows down the storytelling.

A sharper editing approach could have solved this easily.

Hanuman Ansh Movie Review: Final Verdict

Despite these weaknesses, Hanuman Ansh leaves you with a positive feeling.

And perhaps that is its biggest achievement.

The movie may not be technically perfect. Its screenplay needs tightening, some visual effects are unconvincing and a few scenes feel longer than necessary.

But there is sincerity behind the storytelling.

The performances are heartfelt, the locations feel authentic, the costumes complement the period, the folk-influenced music works beautifully and the spiritual incidents give viewers plenty to think about.

Most importantly, the movie can encourage viewers unfamiliar with Neem Karoli Baba's life and teachings to learn more about him after leaving the theatre.

For devotees of Lord Hanuman, followers of Neem Karoli Baba or audiences interested in Indian spirituality, Hanuman Ansh can be a meaningful theatrical experience.

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

It may not be a flawless cinematic experience, but Hanuman Ansh succeeds in offering something peaceful, informative and spiritually uplifting.

If you have already watched Hanuman Ansh, what did you think about the film and its portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Jai Jai Bajrangbali!