The life of the enigmatic Siddha Yogi Devraha Baba, who had a deep connection with Brajbhoomi and Vrindavan, is now set to come to the big screen.

Following the success of the film ‘Hanuman Ansh’ inspired by Neem Karoli Baba, production has begun on ‘Machan Baba’, a film based on the life of Devraha Baba, his spiritual practices, the years he spent on a raised platform, i.e. machan, and the historical and political episodes associated with him. The makers have released the title poster of the film and plan to release it in 2027.

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Devraha Baba was known as the ‘Ageless Yogi’ and ‘Machan Baba’. Very little is known about his early life. He is believed to have been associated with the Deoria region of Uttar Pradesh. In the first half of the 20th century, he began living on a high wooden platform on the banks of the Sarayu River. Local people started calling him Devraha or Deoraha Baba.

Later he moved to Vrindavan and spent the rest of his life on a machan on the banks of the Yamuna. He lived on a platform about 12 feet above the ground, coming down only to bathe, and would bless devotees by hanging his feet down from the machan. Wearing a deerskin, leading a simple life, and treating everyone equally above caste and community distinctions were his hallmarks. He emphasised the name of Rama and cow protection, and preached religious harmony.

His age always remained a mystery. Some devotees and memoirs put it at 150–250 years, others at 500 years, and some even at 900 years. India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, considered him to be at least 150 years old. On 19 June 1990, on the day of Yogini Ekadashi, he took Mahasamadhi on the banks of the Yamuna in Vrindavan. His Samadhi Sthal there remains a centre of attraction for devotees today.

Devraha Baba’s devotees ranged from ordinary people to the strongest personalities of the country. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited his ashram in 1978 after losing power in 1977. According to popular accounts, the Baba raised his hand to bless her and said, “This hand will do you good.” After this, the Congress party adopted the open palm as its election symbol and returned to power with a landslide majority in 1980. Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi also met him before the 1989 elections.

Dr Rajendra Prasad, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and many other leaders sought his darshan. In 2009, while speaking in Parliament, Rajnath Singh referred to historical accounts claiming that King George V had met the Baba in 1911. The Baba was a supporter of the Ram Mandir movement and had predicted that a grand temple would be built in Ayodhya.

He is also said to have had a connection with Neem Karoli Baba. Both were active around the same period. Devotee memoirs and oral accounts mention meetings between the two saints, in which Neem Karoli Baba is said to have held Devraha Baba in special regard.

The film is being produced by Poonam Gupta, a British-based businesswoman of Indian origin, and Vikalp Paliwal, an entrepreneur based in the United States.

The film is currently in the research and pre-production stage. Work is underway on books related to Devraha Baba, old photographs, documents, eyewitness accounts and memoirs of people connected with him. Episodes from his life linked to Vrindavan and the Braj region, the years spent on the machan, political meetings and the mystery surrounding his age form an important part of this research.

The makers say that ‘Machan Baba’ will not be merely a story of miracles. The film will explore multiple layers of faith, history, politics, human experience and the unresolved mysteries surrounding Devraha Baba’s personality.