Divine Detour Finds a New Life in Cinema with Hanuman Ansh, Says Tusharika Sharma

Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi’s book, published by Truth and Social Publication, draws from the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, while Co Founder Tusharika Sharma says its journey to cinema carries forward ideas of compassion, service and humanity.

A book rooted in spiritual experiences associated with Neem Karoli Baba has found another form of expression on the big screen.
Divine Detour, authored by Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi and published by Truth and Social Publication, has made the transition from literature to cinema through Hanuman Ansh, a spiritual film drawing from the life, experiences, teachings and legacy of Neem Karoli Baba.
The development brings together two different forms of storytelling around a common spiritual foundation. While Divine Detour introduces these ideas through the written word, Hanuman Ansh carries them into a cinematic setting intended for a wider audience.
The book was launched in Lucknow and brings together stories around spirituality, devotion and personal transformation. Its focus extends beyond accounts associated with miracles to ideas that occupy a central place in the teachings attributed to Neem Karoli Baba.

Service, compassion, humility, love and humanity form the underlying themes.
Within this philosophy, devotion is not presented solely through material offerings or religious practice. Feeding someone who is hungry, helping people in need and serving others without seeking recognition are treated as expressions of faith in everyday life.
These ideas form the connection between Divine Detour and Hanuman Ansh.
The film has been produced for an all India theatrical release distributed by Cinépolis, giving the themes explored in the book a different route to audiences.

For Truth and Social Publication, the transition also demonstrates how a book can move beyond conventional publishing and become the starting point for a wider cultural conversation.
Tusharika Sharma, Co Founder of Truth and Social Publication, has been closely involved with the development of Divine Detour. A follower of Neem Karoli Baba, Sharma worked on the manuscript with particular attention to how its stories and spiritual themes were presented.
“For me, Divine Detour has never been just a book; it has been a deeply personal spiritual journey,” Sharma said.
“Every chapter was handled with sincerity and respect because we wanted readers to experience not only inspiring stories but also the values of compassion, service and humanity,” she added.

That distinction is important to the way the book and film position spirituality.
Rather than presenting faith as something removed from ordinary life, the underlying message connects spiritual practice with the way people treat one another.
India’s spiritual traditions have long existed alongside daily life through family practices, festivals, community relationships, reverence for nature and acts of service. Divine Detour draws upon this relationship between belief and everyday conduct.
Hanuman Ansh takes those ideas into cinema, presenting spirituality through a narrative centred on empathy, responsibility and human connection.
The film also arrives at a time when conversations around mindfulness, mental well being, purpose and meaningful living have become increasingly visible. Within that environment, principles such as simplicity, gratitude and service can find relevance among audiences beyond conventional spiritual circles.

For younger viewers in particular, cinema offers a different point of entry into ideas that might otherwise be encountered through books, family traditions or religious spaces.
Many portions of Hanuman Ansh were filmed in Uttar Pradesh, connecting the visual setting of the film with the cultural environment surrounding its story.
Neem Karoli Baba remains a widely followed spiritual figure, with devotees and seekers in India and internationally. Divine Detour approaches that legacy through literary storytelling, while Hanuman Ansh translates related themes into a visual narrative.
For Sharma, seeing the book move into cinema has carried personal significance.
“Watching this journey evolve into a feature film is both emotional and fulfilling. I hope the book and Hanuman Ansh inspire people to discover that true devotion lies in how we serve others and live with kindness,” she said.

The development also raises an interesting possibility for independent Indian publishing.
A book does not necessarily have to end its journey with the reader who turns its final page. Stories can move between publishing, cinema and other creative formats, reaching audiences who may never encounter the original work.
In the case of Divine Detour, that movement is particularly relevant because its central ideas are not dependent on one medium.
The book provides space for reflection through words and individual stories. The film can translate those ideas through characters, locations, sound and visual storytelling.
What connects both is the attempt to examine spirituality through human behaviour rather than spectacle alone.
For Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi, Divine Detour represents a literary expression of experiences and teachings associated with Neem
Karoli Baba. For Truth and Social Publication, it represents an opportunity to take a published work into another cultural space. Hanuman Ansh now gives those ideas a cinematic life.

The significance of the journey therefore lies beyond a conventional book adaptation.
It is a movement from reading to viewing, but also an attempt to retain the same fundamental question across both forms: what does devotion mean when translated into everyday conduct?
Divine Detour and Hanuman Ansh arrive at a similar answer.
Compassion, kindness, humility and service can be spiritual acts in themselves.

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