Kid’s Mask In Monkey Man, Hanuman Inspiration, & Hindu Connection Explained

Warning: major spoilers for Monkey Man ahead!

Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man features an explosive action saga starring a character who often deploys the use of a monkey mask, which is indicative of the story’s deep connections to Hindu scripture. The gritty action thriller Monkey Man takes place in India but heavily borrows from Korean and Western action movies to create a unique aesthetic and style. While the movie is carried by its outstanding fight choreography, Dev Patel’s exploration of the Indian caste system serves as powerful social commentary which complements the action.

The movie stars Patel as a character known only as “Kid”, and in any instance in which he knows he is in for a fight, he dons a realistic-looking monkey mask. The movie’s title is derived from the title he earns as a pit fighter, where he fights anonymously but eventually becomes known as “Monkey Man” once he wins the crowd. The mask itself is not just a calling card; it’s deeply symbolic both to the character and to the Hindu religion from which it’s derived.

Kid’s Monkey Mask Is A Reference To The Hindu Deity Hanuman

Hanuman is typically depicted as an anthropomorphic monkey.

Kid is introduced as a pit fighter who gets paid to throw fights despite the implication that he could win if he so chose. His distinctive feature is a monkey mask that he wears before, during and after each fight, concealing his identity while also singling him out as unique. The monkey mask is a reference to the Hindu deity Hanuman, a half-human, half-monkey god who is one of the major players in the divine mythology associated with the Hindu religion.

As a fighter, Kid emulates some monkey characteristics, using agility, speed, and momentum to inflict damage. After a training montage in which he grows stronger and heals from past wounds, he actively mimics monkey-like movements when he returns to the fighting pits. As the action unfolds, it becomes clear that Kid’s journey reflects the mythical Hanuman’s story as well, making the mask highly symbolic.

Who Is Hanuman? Hindu’s Divine Monkey Explained

Known by several names, Hanuman is the god of wisdom, strength, and self-discipline.

According to the Encylopedia Brittanica, Hanuman is a major deity involved in the Ramayana, one of the two most important epics in Hinduism. As Kid’s mother tells him in the beginning of Monkey Man, as a child Hanuman tried to fly up and retrieve the Sun, which he thought was a fruit. He ultimately becomes the commander of a monkey army, and is celebrated for his unwavering devotion to the deity Rama, an incarnation of one of the principal Hindu deities, Vishnu. His loyalty to Rama, on whose behalf he battles the demon king Ravana, makes him a model of what all members of Hinduism should strive for.

Hanuman’s influence extends beyond India, and beyond Hinduism. He is revered by Buddhists in Central and East Asia, and in modern times he has even been depicted as a comic book superhero. References can even be found throughout Western culture as well, including the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther, in which the Jabari tribe in Wakanda worships Hanuman, a white gorilla deity.

Why Kid Dyes His Monkey Mask White

Kid’s connection to Hanuman explains the necessary color.

Hanuman is famously depicted as a white monkey, and the real-world white monkey known as the Hanuman langur is in fact sacred. Dying his ape mask from black to white is meant to be a metaphor for Kid truly embracing the characteristics of Hanuman. He goes from being a solitary fighter out for vengeance to the leader of an army of mistreated individuals out to stop the evil overlord who torments them, just as Hanuman led a monkey army to battle the demon king Ravana.

Dying the mask white is an indicator that he has become far more powerful, which is fitting considering he does it in preparation to kill the evil men who have tormented the powerless in India. He inflicts a brutal final punishment on Rana Singh, the police leader who killed his mother before taking on Baba Shakti, the false religious leader pulling Singh’s strings. Kid’s battle against dozens of henchmen directly reflects Hanuman’s encounter with the demon followers of Ravana, albeit with much more violence and blood.

The Real Meaning Of Monkey Man’s Hanuman Inspiration

There are many parallels between Hanuman’s mythology and Kid’s journey.

In many ways, Monkey Man can be considered a modern retelling of the epic story of Hanuman, which is why the monkey mask acts as such an important symbol. Kid’s story aligns with Hanuman’s from the beginning; his hands are burned in the fire on his mother’s body, reflecting Hanuman’s attempt to retrieve the Sun. Kid’s maturation and evolution from a vengeful, lonely young man to a great leader reflects Hanuman’s growth from a mischievous youth to one of the most revered deities in the major Hindu epics.

Finally, under the guise of a white monkey, Kid leads a (small) army of followers to battle a great evil just as Hanuman did. Dev Patel litters Monkey Man with social commentary on India’s caste system and the mistreatment of certain groups, but under it all is a modern version of the story of Hanuman’s rise to greatness. However, in lieu of magic and superpowers, Patel writes his version with blood and fists.

Source: Encylopedia Brittanica