Director Vishal Chaturvedi, who is making a film on the life and influence of Neem Karoli Baba titled Hanuman Ansh, has recounted a bitter rejection by an OTT platform that he said used derogatory language while dismissing his project. The incident, Chaturvedi said, convinced him that the story needed to be told on the big screen rather than as a streaming series.
Rejection described as reflective of a 'narrative'
In comments reported by India Today, Chaturvedi said he had pitched the film to an OTT platform and was asked whether he had "an Indian story with international relevance". He said he narrated the story of Maharaj Ji (Neem Karoli Baba) and was emotionally affected while doing so.
“Mujhe laga jis tarah unhone reject kiya, jis bhaasha ka prayog kiya, woh thodi derogatory thi... Uss narrative ko burst karna bahut zaroori hai.”
Chaturvedi added that the language used in the rejection suggested a pre-existing mindset, describing it as “garbage filling their minds” that he felt the project needed to challenge. He said the episode made him more determined to take the subject to cinema audiences.
Why the director chose cinema over OTT
According to the report, the director argued that a large platform asking whether the story had international appeal implied a limited view of what the platform considered suitable for Indian audiences. He said this signalled to him that such platforms were not serving the cultural work the filmmaker believed was necessary.
Chaturvedi told India TV that the rejection was not merely personal — filmmakers face refusals frequently — but that the tone of the dismissal suggested an entrenched narrative about Indian spiritual figures which he wanted to confront through his film.
Context and potential implications
The episode touches on wider debates within India’s film community about the role of streaming platforms in shaping content choices. While OTT services have funded a wide range of Indian stories, some filmmakers and cultural commentators have argued that commissioning decisions can reflect editorial frameworks that favour certain themes or target audiences over others.
Chaturvedi’s decision to prioritise a theatrical release for Hanuman Ansh will contribute to the ongoing conversation about how stories of faith, saints and traditional spiritual figures are presented to contemporary viewers — whether via mass-market multiplex releases or on streaming services with global reach.
- Film: Hanuman Ansh — a film about Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj Ji)
- Director: Vishal Chaturvedi
- Reported to: India TV and covered by India Today
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Nature of rejection | Described by director as derogatory and indicative of a pre-existing narrative |
| Director's response | Resolve to make film for theatres; concern about platform perspectives |
Chaturvedi framed his determination as a responsibility: he said making the film was important because of how the Indian spiritual mindset is perceived. He indicated that presenting Maharaj Ji’s story differently was necessary to counter what he sees as a dismissive approach from some content gatekeepers.
The director’s comments add to a series of public conversations between creators and distributors about editorial choices, cultural sensitivity and audience reach. While OTT platforms have opened avenues for diverse storytelling, this incident highlights that commissioning and curation practices remain a point of contention for some filmmakers seeking to portray religious and cultural subjects on screen.
No representative of the OTT platform mentioned by Chaturvedi is quoted in the report. The director’s remarks, as conveyed to India TV and reported by India Today, focus on his personal experience pitching Hanuman Ansh and the impact the rejection had on his distribution strategy.
As the film progresses towards release, the debate it has sparked about platform curation and the presentation of faith-based narratives is likely to continue among industry stakeholders and audiences alike.
