Director Mohit Suri, known for his romantic dramas such as 'Aashiqui 2' and his latest release 'Saiyaara,' has voiced his support for Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the filmmaker behind 'Arjun Reddy,' 'Kabir Singh,' and the controversial 'Animal'. Suri stated that he is a fan of Vanga's storytelling and believes much of the criticism leveled against Vanga's films is often misunderstood and even "audience-made".
Suri's comments come amidst ongoing debates surrounding Vanga's films, particularly 'Animal,' which has been both a commercial success and a subject of intense scrutiny. Critics have pointed to the film's graphic violence and its portrayal of hyper-masculine characters, leading to accusations of promoting misogyny and toxic behavior. Some, like Javed Akhtar, have even labeled 'Animal' as "dangerous for society".
In an interview with Filmygyan, Suri defended Vanga's creative freedom, stating, "Everyone has the right to make their films. You have a right to like it or not like it". He drew parallels between Vanga's work and films by Mahesh Bhatt and Ram Gopal Varma, suggesting that intense and dark themes are not new to Indian cinema. Suri argued that controversies surrounding Vanga's films are often created by the audience. He said that if the same story were done with a gangster, like Mahesh Bhatt's 'Sadak,' it wouldn't be as controversial.
Suri also expressed his admiration for the emotional depth in Vanga's films, differentiating between 'Arjun Reddy' and 'Kabir Singh' and highlighting the greater emotional complexity in the latter. He confessed to messaging Vanga after watching 'Animal,' admitting, "I loved Animal. I messaged him during Animal that I am a Sandeep Reddy Vanga fan".
Adding to this, Suri revealed that Vanga had expressed interest in watching 'Saiyaara' and even tweeted about its trailer, which touched Suri deeply. Suri was surprised and happy when Vanga messaged him after 'Saiyaara's' release. He regretted not publicly praising 'Animal' when it was released, especially since Vanga publicly acknowledged 'Saiyaara'. Suri noted that public acknowledgments are rare in the film industry, making Vanga's gesture even more meaningful, indicating Vanga is a secure and generous person.
Vanga himself has responded to the criticism surrounding 'Animal', addressing concerns about the film's potential societal impact. He has also defended his portrayal of certain relationships in the film, citing personal experiences. In one instance, Vanga retorted, "You have a problem with the joota chato scene, but no problem with the hero killing 300 people?". He also claimed that cracking the IAS exam is easier than filmmaking, noting that filmmaking has no structured learning path.
'Animal' is планируется to have a sequel, 'Animal Park,' also featuring Ranbir Kapoor. Vanga has stated that he deliberately amplified the brutality in 'Animal' in response to earlier criticisms of his work. He has also expressed frustration with film industry members who criticize his work, suggesting they lack common sense and have led privileged lives.
Mohit Suri's support for Sandeep Reddy Vanga highlights the ongoing debate about creative freedom, artistic expression, and the responsibility of filmmakers in portraying potentially controversial themes. Suri's defense suggests a belief that audiences should have the right to choose what they consume and that filmmakers should not be censored for exploring complex and sometimes disturbing subjects.
