Hanuman Ansh Movie: The Miraculous Story of Neem Karoli Baba
“Hanuman Ansh” is a film that has created a huge buzz in India. From its title itself, it is clear that the story is connected with an ansh of Lord Hanuman. In Hindi, ansh means a part, a divine portion, or an essence.
The film is inspired by the life and miraculous experiences associated with Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Baba Neeb Karori. He was a revered saint whose life has been surrounded by stories of extraordinary spiritual experiences and miracles. Many people who personally witnessed his miracles have spoken about them over the years. Some of these witnesses were even British and American devotees who came into contact with Baba and experienced what they believed were his extraordinary powers.
Hanuman Ansh brings several of these stories together through the life of a young boy named Lakshmi Narayan, who would later become Neem Karoli Baba.
A Boy Who Wanted to Reach God
The story begins when thirteen-year-old Lakshmi Narayan loses his mother. When the family tells him that his mother has gone to God, the innocent child asks a simple but profound question: if his mother has gone to God, why can't he go there too?
His father later remarries so that someone can look after the boy. But Lakshmi Narayan's spiritual journey has already begun.
He accepts Lord Hanuman as his chosen deity, his Guru and his God, and gradually dedicates his entire life to Him.
At just thirteen, Lakshmi Narayan has already understood the deeper meaning of a famous line from the Hanuman Chalisa:
“Tumhare bhajan Ram ko paave.”
The meaning is that devotion to Hanuman ultimately leads a devotee to Lord Rama.
For the young Lakshmi Narayan, Hanuman becomes the bridge between himself and Rama.
And so, his extraordinary journey begins.
The Boy Who Could Understand Nature
From childhood, Lakshmi Narayan is shown as someone deeply connected with nature. He is able to understand the language of birds and appears to share a special bond with trees, plants and the natural world.
But even this connection becomes an attachment—and a spiritual teacher eventually warns him that attachment can become an obstacle on the path to God.
A Mahant teaches the young Lakshmi Narayan that a person seeking God must not become excessively attached to people, places or worldly things.
This teaching changes his life. Whenever Lakshmi Narayan begins to become emotionally attached to a place or feels that someone is becoming too attached to him, he moves on.
He does not stay in one place. His journey gradually takes him across different parts of India.
The Miracles of His Childhood
The film presents several miraculous incidents from Lakshmi Narayan's early life.
Among them are stories of turning a stone into a sweet, remaining inside a well for an unusually long period, and knowing what was in another person's mind.
But these miracles are not presented merely as supernatural spectacles. They are shown as part of the boy's spiritual journey and his growing devotion to Hanuman.
As the story progresses, the film presents many other incidents associated with Neem Karoli Baba's life.
These include the famous story of Baba being removed from a train, Gopal the bird-catcher seeing numerous snakes wrapped around Baba's neck, Baba jokingly telling a woman how she could save herself from becoming a widow, teaching a watermelon thief a lesson, miraculously providing food to a revolutionary, repeatedly appearing outside a police lock-up without anyone opening the lock, showing a lost man the correct path, the famous half-shaved beard incident, teaching a moneylender a lesson, and even growing mustard plants on his tongue to convince his wife of his spiritual powers.
Three of the Film's Most Beautiful Devotional Moments
Among all these incidents, there are three scenes that I found particularly powerful and beautiful because of the devotion and faith they convey.
The Revolutionary and the 13 Bowls of Puri
In one scene, a revolutionary becomes trapped in a dharamshala. He has not eaten for many days—according to the story, he has gone without food for around fifteen days.
Because of his circumstances, he is reluctant to eat the food being offered at the temple.
Neem Karoli Baba gives him a bowl containing 13 puris.
The revolutionary begins eating.
He eats one bowl after another. Even after eating nine bowls of puri and vegetables, there is still food left.
The man is astonished.
The scene is not simply about the miracle of food. It conveys Baba's compassion towards someone who is hungry and in desperate circumstances.
When the Train Refuses to Move
Another memorable episode involves a British officer, Sir Frances, who orders Baba to be removed from a train because he does not have a ticket.
After Baba gets off the train, something strange happens—the train refuses to move.
The railway authorities try everything. Even after attaching two engines, the train still does not move.
Eventually, Baba tells the British officer that the train will move only when he agrees never again to remove a sadhu or saint from the train simply because he does not have a ticket.
The officer finally agrees.
The train starts moving.
The story also says that the British authorities eventually establish a railway station at Neem Karoli, adding another fascinating chapter to the legend surrounding Baba.
The Mustard Plant on His Tongue
Another touching scene takes place when Baba's wife begins to doubt his spiritual devotion and miraculous abilities.
To remove her doubts, Baba performs an extraordinary miracle: he grows a mustard plant on his tongue.
His wife is convinced.
But she makes one request.
She does not want Baba to keep a long beard. Whenever his beard grows too much, she wants him to have it cut.
This leads to another remarkable incident.
One day, Baba visits a barber to have his beard shaved. While there, he learns that the barber is deeply troubled because his son has left home.
Baba decides to help the distressed father.
With his beard only half shaved, Baba gives the barber twelve annas and leaves, saying he needs to attend to something.
The following day, the barber's son returns home.
He tells his father about a strange encounter: a man with only half his beard shaved had given him twelve annas, which helped him obtain a train ticket.
The barber realises that the mysterious man was Baba.
The Lock-Up Miracle
Another fascinating episode involves the police putting Baba into a lock-up.
But Baba repeatedly appears outside the locked cell—and then somehow returns inside again.
The police are unable to understand how he is doing it.
The doors remain locked, yet Baba seems to move in and out without anyone opening them.
Like many of the other incidents in the film, the scene is presented not simply as a supernatural trick but as part of the larger spiritual mystery surrounding Baba's life.
A Film About Faith, Not Just Miracles
What I particularly liked about Hanuman Ansh is that the film does not feel like a collection of unrelated miracle scenes.
The incidents are connected to one another and presented as part of a continuous spiritual journey.
There is a certain rhythm to the storytelling. The miracles gradually become part of a larger message about faith, devotion, compassion and surrender.
While watching the film, you do not constantly feel that the makers are simply trying to show one miracle after another.
Instead, you slowly become immersed in Baba's world.
And that is perhaps the film's greatest strength.
You begin watching the miracles, but gradually you find yourself thinking about the faith behind them.
“O Maine Tere Bharose Sagar Mein Naiya Daal Di”
One song from the film has also become widely discussed and appreciated:
“O Maine Tere Bharose Sagar Mein Naiya Daal Di.”
It is a beautiful devotional song, and its simple emotional quality makes it particularly memorable.
The song fits perfectly with the central theme of surrendering oneself completely to the divine.
I have personally watched Hanuman Ansh twice, and I found myself enjoying it more for the spiritual atmosphere and emotional journey than simply for the miraculous incidents.
A Film That Has Become a Phenomenon
According to reports circulating about the film, Hanuman Ansh was made on a budget of only around ₹2 crore, while its reported earnings have reached approximately ₹500 crore.
Whether every figure being reported is accurate or not, the response to the film has certainly been remarkable.
It is a film that has connected with audiences through something much deeper than spectacle—faith.
If you have not watched Hanuman Ansh yet, I would recommend giving it a chance.
Go and watch it without expecting just another supernatural film.
You may find yourself being drawn into the world of Neem Karoli Baba, Lord Hanuman, and the power of devotion.
And who knows—you might come out of the theatre with more questions about faith and miracles than you had when you entered.
