August 19, 2025 Mumbai
Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane has publicly voiced his concerns over the announcement of India’s first fully AI-generated feature film, Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, calling into question the future of creative professionals in cinema.
The film, produced by Abundantia Entertainment and Collective Media Network’s Historyverse, is slated for theatrical release on Hanuman Jayanti in 2026. Touted as a “Made-In-AI” and “Made in India” production, the movie draws inspiration from the Ramayana and ancient Puranic texts, aiming to reimagine mythological storytelling through artificial intelligence. The project involves over 50 engineers collaborating with cultural scholars to craft the narrative, while the soundtrack will be composed by Trilok, an AI-powered band blending spiritual and contemporary rhythms.
Motwane, known for his critically acclaimed works such as Udaan and Trapped, responded sharply to the announcement via Instagram Stories. Reposting the film’s promotional poster, he wrote, “And so it begins… Who TF needs writers and directors when it’s ‘Made in AI’,” expressing deep apprehension about the implications of AI on human creativity.
In a prior interview with Hindustan Times, Motwane elaborated on his stance, stating, “I see AI as a threat. The threat is not from the creators using it. The threat is from the people with money wanting to use it to save more money for themselves… to say, ‘I can use AI and then I will not hire X number of people for my job,’ or ‘I can use AI and I can get rid of X number of people’”.
The announcement has sparked widespread debate across the film industry and among audiences. While some, including actor Ranveer Singh, have expressed support for the innovation, others have criticized the move as undermining the artistic integrity of cinema. Online reactions ranged from calls to boycott AI-driven productions to concerns over the absence of human involvement in storytelling.
The controversy follows recent backlash against the AI-modified ending of Aanand L. Rai’s Raanjhanaa in its Tamil adaptation Ambikapathy, which was altered without the consent of the original creators. That incident intensified discussions around the ethical boundaries of AI in entertainment.
As Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal prepares for its release, Motwane’s critique adds a prominent voice to the growing discourse on the role of artificial intelligence in the creative arts. The film’s reception may well shape future industry standards and the balance between technological innovation and human artistry.
