Who is Suneel Lodhi? Soulful voice of 'Maine Tere Hi Bharose Hanuman' song from Neem Karoli Baba movie Hanuman Ansh

Suneel Lodhi, in an interview with Doordarshan, had shared that he never received formal training or had a music coach.

‘Whose face did we just see early in the morning?’ Suneel Lodhi, the voice behind the popular number “Main Tere Hi Bharose Hanuman”, recalled being discriminated in his hamlet. In an interview with ThePrint, the singer shared that being blind was stigmatised in his village in Bundelkhand for years.

“When I stepped out in the morning, people wouldn’t look at me. Many times, I heard them wince, ‘Whose face did we just see early in the morning?’” the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by the publication.

The visually impaired folk singer, however, paid no heed to the villagers and continued pursuing his passion for singing bhajans and Bundeli folk songs. Little did he know that his renditions would one day make their way to Bollywood.

Suneel Lodhi’s musical journey

An ardent admirer of Lata Mangeshkar, Lodhi, in an interview with Doordarshan, had shared that he never received formal training or had a music coach.

Despite his visual impairment, he continued singing traditional Bundeli folk songs on local trains from the age of 10-11. “I used to sing on the tambura,” Lodhi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times (HT).

How Bundeli Duniya changed his career

Long before social media became a major platform for artists, Suneel Lodhi had already built a collection of Bundeli folk songs and traditional bhajans. His work later found a wider audience through Bundeli Duniya, a social media page and YouTube channel that helped bring his music into the spotlight.

Lodhi said he initially did not realise how far his performances had travelled online.

“I had been singing songs for the Bundeli Duniya page. That is where my Bundeli songs started getting noticed,” he told HT.

Lodhi first gained attention with songs such as “Dula Ban Ke Aa Gai”, which attracted lakhs of views online. However, his biggest breakthrough came with the traditional Hanuman bhajan “More Sankat Ke Kataiya”. The song went on to cross 29 million views, bringing widespread attention to Lodhi’s distinctive voice.

A call from Mumbai

Among those who came across Lodhi’s rendition was filmmaker and music producer Pankaj VRK. At the time, Pankaj was working on YouTube content when he heard “More Sankat Ke Kataiya” and was impressed by the singer’s raw, earthy voice.

He soon contacted Lodhi and invited him to Mumbai. The singer later recorded eight songs at Sai Baba Studio in the city.

One of those recordings, “Maine Tere Hi Bharose”, became another major milestone in Lodhi’s journey. At the time of recording, however, Lodhi had no idea that the song would eventually feature in a film.

He simply performed the song in the style he had always followed, accompanying himself on his tambura.

Hanuman Ansh, the devotional film reportedly made on a budget of ₹2 crore, has been directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and is inspired by the life of spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba.

Set in 20th-century India, the film follows Lakshman Das from his childhood and spiritual awakening to his transformation into the man who would become known as Neem Karoli Baba. His devotion to Lord Hanuman and teachings on love, compassion and selfless service form the core of the story.

About the Author

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.

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