A small-time thief gains the powers of Hanuman to defend his village. Made for a fraction of a typical tentpole budget, HanuMan became one of the highest-grossing Indian superhero films and the cornerstone of a planned cinematic universe.
Hanu-Man, also marketed as HanuMan, is a 2024 Telugu-language superhero film written and directed by Prasanth Varma and produced by K. Niranjan Reddy under Primeshow Entertainment. It stars Teja Sajja in the title role, alongside Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Samuthirakani, Vinay Rai and Vennela Kishore. Set in the fictional village of Anjanadri, it is the first installment of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe.
The narrative follows Hanumanthu, a petty thief who gains the powers of the deity Hanuman after encountering a divine gem, and ultimately confronts an antagonist named Michael. The film blends science fiction, fantasy and Hindu mythology, drawing mostly on the Ramayana and the traditions surrounding Hanuman. Varma has said he wanted something indigenous and culturally rooted rather than a Marvel- or DC-style superhero film.
The producer Niranjan Reddy, an American NRI film distributor, approached Varma to direct a film for his banner after watching Zombie Reddy (2021). Varma announced the project on 29 May 2021, coinciding with his birthday, billing it as the first superhero film in Telugu cinema. It was made on what the page describes as a shoe-string budget of around 20 crore rupees, and during the November 2022 teaser launch Varma revealed the production budget had grown roughly six times from its initial valuation.
Production leaned heavily on local craft. The team constructed a temporary studio called Hanuman Studio at Vattinagulapally near Hyderabad for green-screen work, with wide-angle visuals shot in Paderu and Maredumilli in Andhra Pradesh, and the underwater sequence filmed in Mumbai. Teja Sajja learned scuba diving for the film, while Rishab Shetty was approached for the role of Vibhishana but declined due to commitments to Kantara, with Samuthirakani taking the part instead.
Released on 12 January 2024 during Sankranti, the film received positive reviews for Varma's direction, the cast's performances, the portrayal of Hanuman, the background score, the visual effects and the action sequences. Reviewers from The Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, India Today and DNA India all rated it 3.5 out of 5. It grossed between 300 and 350 crore rupees worldwide, ranking among the highest-grossing Indian superhero films and as the fourth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2024.
Recognition followed at the 71st National Film Awards, where HanuMan won two honours: Best Film in AVGC and Best Stunt Choreography. The film was the first Telugu film to introduce NFT collectibles, and its trailer was attached to theatrical prints of Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire. It later screened at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival in August 2024.
The universe has expanded quickly. A direct sequel titled Jai Hanuman was announced in the film's end credits, with Rishab Shetty announced in October 2024 to portray Hanuman. Varma also announced a film titled Adhira, built around the powers of Indra, and a film titled Mahakali centred on the goddess Mahakali, with Akshaye Khanna announced as Shukracharya and Bhoomi Shetty announced in the Mahakali title role. Together these projects map out the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe.
Reported from the English Wikipedia entries on Hanu-Man and the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe.
