Movie Review: Return of Hanuman

First thing first. The Return of Hanuman ain’t any sequel. It is original and complete in itself.

Movie: Return of Hanuman

Rating: ***

Director: Anurag Kashyap

First thing first. The Return of Hanuman ain’t any sequel. It is original and complete in itself.

That is what the makers claim. So watch the film in its exclusivity, that is, if you can…

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As marketed by Percept picture Company, Hanuman has returned with a difference. Apart from his Godly features, he has also slipped into the skin of a superhero. A human saviour!

Set in the present-day picture, ‘neo-Hanuman’, if we can call him that, is disturbed by the on goings in

age of kalyug. He gets completely distressed when he sees Minku, a village-kid, begin scorned by his peers.

It is then that he approaches Narad Muni, requesting him to convince Lord Brahma to send him back to Earth to restore its lost harmony and of course enjoy the childhood days like any other kids.

Lord Brahma indeed agrees, but only after making Hanuman sign a contract with several dos and don’ts! And thus returns the deity, in a new form. He is born to a pandit and is named Maruti. And like any other kid, he too has the penchant for falling in trouble again and again. But soon everyone realises he is an ‘avtaar’ of Lord Hanuman and Maruti takes up job to save humankind.

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The script, written by Anurag Kashyap and Amit Babbar is quite tight and makes space for an interesting blend of mythology and kalyug.

While there are characters like Munni, Minkoo and Daddu, who are Maruti’s pals, there are also the characteristic one-eyed evil oddballs like Rahu Ketu and not to forget the prominent presence of deities.

Direction wise, Anurag Kashyap has definitely made a mark. From a complete reality-rooted Black Friday to an astounding animated return of Hanuman Kashyap has remarkably transcended the genre boundary.

There are several interesting snapshots in the film which would bring that wide smile on everyone’s face – from Maruti’s insatiable appetite to his extraordinary powers. And not to forget Gabbar Singh’s animated Sholay dialogue ’…tum saat aur wo ek bachchaa’ or the reverberating sounds of Shah Rukh Khan(!)…

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But despite its innovative storyline and sequences, the dragging pace of the film in the second half, robs it of the impression it could have made. The climax gets big-time boring and unfortunately takes away the effervescence added till then.

And yes, it is NOT possible to watch the film without allowing the memories of Hanuman hog your head.

Technically the film is good, but of course we still have to go a long way before we reach the so-called ‘westernly perfection’.

Nonetheless, the film is definitely an interesting watch, owing to the beautiful blend of mythology and present days. So let the child inside you come out and relish the delight.