Cinema VinesUttarakhand has declared the devotional feature Hanuman Ansh tax‑free for the state, a move announced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after a screening in Dehradun on Friday. The film, which chronicles the life and teachings of the saint Neem Karoli Baba, has already become a box‑office phenomenon across India.
During the screening, Dhami watched the movie with his wife Geeta, cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi, Pradeep Batra and several legislators. In a post on X, the CM praised the film for highlighting Uttarakhand’s spiritual and cultural heritage and for offering insight into Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj Ji’s devotion, sacrifice, and service to humanity. He added that the saint’s life demonstrates that devotion is not merely practice but also a path of surrender and welfare for others.
“Congratulating the film’s team for creating an inspirational and spiritual film,” Dhami wrote, “we will make it tax‑free in the state.” The decision is intended to encourage audiences to watch the movie and to promote the region’s religious legacy.
Directed and written by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh follows a grieving young man, Lakshminarayan, who embarks on a spiritual quest after his mother’s death. His journey across North India leads him to become the revered saint Neem Karoli Baba, whose teachings of love, service and compassion have touched many lives. The cast includes Shobhinaw Satya, Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey and Bhagvandas Patel.
The film opened on 7 August, earning only ₹10 lakh on its first day and playing in fewer than 20 theatres by its second week. Word‑of‑mouth helped it surge to over ₹28 crore net in India by the fourth weekend, and it has since crossed the ₹100‑crore threshold. Hombale Films has secured international distribution, though a global release date remains pending.
Abhimanyu Mathur, Deputy Editor of Entertainment at Hindustan Times, noted the film’s rapid rise and its impact on audiences worldwide. The tax‑free status in Uttarakhand is expected to further boost viewership and celebrate the spiritual narrative that has resonated across the country.
