'Hanuman Ansh': A biopic that highlights the essence of selfless service

Fakir Hassen | Published 49 minutes ago Movie review: Hanuman Ansh Cast: Vihaan Shedge and Shobhinaw Satyaa Director: Vishal Chaturvedi Rating: 6/10 DIRECTOR Vishal Chaturvedi makes it clear before the credits start that he has taken cinematic licence in this biopic about the legendary saint Neem Karoli Baba. This becomes clear as the film proceeds, with some scenes doubtful of having been exactly as they happened in real life. Chaturvedi adapted the narrative from his research and book, Divine Detour , as well as long-held oral traditions passed on by devotees, which in their essence would be coloured by their own interpretations. Despite this, in an era of increasingly violent action movies releasing almost every week, Hanuman Ansh comes as welcome relief as it recounts the life of the saint from childhood to adulthood. Young Lakshmi Narayan (played with compelling innocence by Vihaan Shedge) is left heartbroken following the death of his mother. Driven by an innocent belief that seeking God through Lord Hanuman will reunite him with her, he leaves home, embarking on a long journey across pre-Independence India. As the boy grows into adulthood (portrayed with aplomb by Shobhinaw Satyaa), his personal grief slowly transforms into the broader realisation that true devotion is not found in dramatic miracles, but in the quiet, selfless service of humanity (seva). The plot revolves around him espousing this to all who follow him as he performs several miracles to win them over. This plot, however, unwinds at a pace which could have been much faster to avoid boring the audience. At times it seems as though the film is just a collection of religious vignettes rather than a focused biopic. Nonetheless, the emphasis on humanitarianism, compassion, feeding the hungry, and simple acts of kindness being the highest forms of spiritual expression makes Hanuman Ansh a movie for devotees to watch with their families. Fakir Hassen is a veteran Bollywood critic who has written four books on the subject. post.co.za Related Topics: