New Delhi: ‘Hanuman Ansh’, a film based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, has gone far beyond expectations at the box office. Made on a modest budget of around Rs 1.8 crore, the film witnessed a slow start but later made a strong comeback, with its success now being widely discussed.
Before reaching this stage, however, the film had to face several difficult decisions. Director Vishal Chaturvedi has now spoken about the response the film received before its theatrical release, raising questions over the industry’s initial perception of the project.
‘Hanuman Ansh’ was advised against a theatrical release
Speaking on The Raunak Podcast, Vishal Chaturvedi said several people advised the makers not to release the film in theatres. They suggested selling it to an OTT platform and recovering the initial investment instead.
He said some people also questioned why the film was made when another film on the same subject already existed. According to Chaturvedi, they argued that since the earlier film had not worked, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ would also struggle.However, Vishal and the producers had already decided to take the film to theatres. “If you don’t release a film in theatres, there is no way to measure its success,” he said.
Why was ‘Hanuman Ansh’ rejected by an OTT platform?
In an interview with India TV, Vishal said that during the early stages of making the film, he approached several OTT platforms. At one platform, he initially presented a different story and was asked about the international appeal of an Indian story. He then narrated the story of Maharaj Ji in an emotional manner.
According to Vishal, the manner in which the story was rejected deeply hurt him. “The way they rejected the story and the language they used, I found it objectionable,” he said.
‘The narrative is full of garbage’: Vishal Chaturvedi
Reacting further to the OTT response, the director said he felt the narrative in their minds was “full of garbage” and that it was necessary to break that narrative. His remarks come as ‘Hanuman Ansh’ continues to strengthen its position in theatres and has gone against the negative expectations surrounding the film before its release.
‘Hanuman Ansh’ box office performance
Released on August 7, ‘Hanuman Ansh’ earned only Rs 10 lakh on its opening day. However, positive word of mouth led to a significant rise in its earnings during the third week. The film is now very close to the Rs 100-crore mark in India. Its international release is yet to take place.
Shobhinav Satya plays the lead role in the film. Dr Vishal Chaturvedi is its writer, director and producer. Chandan Anand, Vihaan Shedge, Anil Rastogi and Purnima Tiwari also play important roles.
