Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga addressed criticism of his film Animal, especially from IAS officer Vikas Divyakriti, and defended his work on the Game Changers podcast.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has reacted to criticism of Animal.
Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has opened up about the criticism that his film Animal received. He recalled how some people made hours-long videos just to analyse the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer. He found it surprising that people could talk endlessly about Animal but often ignore real social issues. Speaking on the Game Changers podcast, Vanga called out IAS officer Vikas Divyakriti, whose harsh critique of Animal made him feel like he had done something seriously wrong.
Sandeep said, “There is this IAS officer. In a very serious interview, he said, ‘Movies like Animal shouldn’t be made’. The way he sounded, the way he was saying, it was literally, mujhe laga ki kuch criminal kaam kiya maine (I felt as if I had committed a crime). ‘On one hand, films like 12th Fail are made and on the other films like Animal jo samaajh ko peeche leke jarraha hai (which is pulling the society backwards)’.”
The filmmaker further said, “I’m very honest in saying this ki koi unnecessary attack karega na toh 100% gusssa ayegaa (If anyone attacks unnecessarily, there will be anger). I feel that, he is an IAS officer, he studied to become one. What I think is, go to Delhi, get enrolled in an institute, give 2-3 years of your life, you can crack IAS. There will be a limited amount of books, right? You will study 1500 books…you can crack IAS. I’ll give you in writing. There is no course, there is no teacher that can make you a filmmaker and a writer.”
Vikas, a UPSC professor, played himself in the 2023 film 12th Fail. Last year, speaking on Neelesh Misra’s Slow Interview series, he said, “A film like Animal takes our society back by 10 years. A film like this should not be made. You earned money. You showed that your hero behaves like an animal. There should be some social value, or are people working only for financial value?”
Vikas Divyakriti is a UPSC professor who played himself in the 2023 film 12th Fail. Last year, speaking on Neelesh Misra’s Slow Interview series, he had said, “A film like Animal takes our society back by 10 years. A film like this should not be made. You earned money. You showed that your hero behaves like an animal. There should be some social value, or are people working only for financial value?”
