The Problem Is Not Animal, But Sandeep Vanga Reddy!
13 Dec 2023 16:48:55
Recently, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga attended a promotional event for Animal in Dallas, Texas (USA). After the event, Sandeep said on stage, “What I like about this crowd is that I didn’t hear any questions on misogyny. I’m so happy, you are the right crowd. You saw Animal as a film". A video of the same has gone viral on Reddit.
This statement raised many concerns about the definition of the "right crowd for Animal" and what is more concerning is that the movie has managed to cross Rs 750 crore at the box office.
But there is a section of the audience who are debating to take it as a movie only. Even Sandeep Reddy Vanga had defended saying that there were several such movies made in the past and people took them as a film and were not inspired by them.
Is this the reason why he is trying to show the same in the movie? Whatever the reason might be, it is absolutely dangerous for society if a filmmaker has this kind of attitude toward women. In simple words, it seems like he is trying to promote domestic violence. And then people ask why horrifying cases like Shraddha Walkar's murder take place in the nation.
Further, when he was questioned about Kabir Singh being called a "violent" film, Sandeep Reddy Vanga a name that has become synonymous with ‘toxic masculinity,’ promised that he will show what real violence is, with his upcoming film Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. He did!
The audience also needs to understand the support they show to such people. And, the debate among audiences about whether to view the film as just a cinematic narrative or as a reflection of real-life attitudes will continue. While some argue for separating art from reality, others question the ethical implications of supporting content that normalizes harmful behavior.
But Sandeep Reddy Vanga's defense of his films, particularly his assertion that physical violence is a demonstration of love and affection, adds another concern about the director's mindset and the messages he chooses to convey through his work.
This statement raised many concerns about the definition of the "right crowd for Animal" and what is more concerning is that the movie has managed to cross Rs 750 crore at the box office.
Why is Animal controversial?
The movie, which revolves around Ranvijay (Ranbir Kapoor), has been labelled as a "misogynistic film." E.g. the film is laced with Ranvijay compliments Geetanjali (Rashmika Mandanna) for her 'wide pelvis, suitable for healthy babies.' From apparent violence to mansplaining to infidelity - Sandeep Reddy Vanga perfectly makes his 'alpha male' characters as nothing but a female's nightmare.
Where does the problem lie?
But there is a section of the audience who are debating to take it as a movie only. Even Sandeep Reddy Vanga had defended saying that there were several such movies made in the past and people took them as a film and were not inspired by them.
There have indeed been toxic characters in Indian cinema both male and female that have been glorified in the movies. But if the audience/viewers are okay with such movies, the problem lies with the director's mentality who feels that slapping "your woman" is a kind of love/affection towards the partner.
“When you are deeply in love and deeply connected to a woman (and vice versa), if you don’t have the liberty of slapping each other, then I don’t see anything there,” the filmmaker had said. Later in the same interview, posted online on Saturday, speaking about a particular scene in the film, in which Shahid’s Kabir Singh physically assaults Kiara Advani’s character, Preeti, he said, “She slapped him without a reason, at least Kabir had a reason to slap her. If you can’t slap, if you can’t touch your woman wherever you want, if you can’t kiss, I don’t see the emotion there," Vanga had defended his film against allegations of toxic masculinity while speaking to journalist Anupama Chopra.
Is this the reason why he is trying to show the same in the movie? Whatever the reason might be, it is absolutely dangerous for society if a filmmaker has this kind of attitude toward women. In simple words, it seems like he is trying to promote domestic violence. And then people ask why horrifying cases like Shraddha Walkar's murder take place in the nation.
Further, when he was questioned about Kabir Singh being called a "violent" film, Sandeep Reddy Vanga a name that has become synonymous with ‘toxic masculinity,’ promised that he will show what real violence is, with his upcoming film Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. He did!
The audience also needs to understand the support they show to such people. And, the debate among audiences about whether to view the film as just a cinematic narrative or as a reflection of real-life attitudes will continue. While some argue for separating art from reality, others question the ethical implications of supporting content that normalizes harmful behavior.
But Sandeep Reddy Vanga's defense of his films, particularly his assertion that physical violence is a demonstration of love and affection, adds another concern about the director's mindset and the messages he chooses to convey through his work.