Sandeep Reddy Vanga responds to Javed Akhtar’s criticism of Animal; says, 'If he wasn’t a lyricist or story writer, I’d take his words seriously'

Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga recently appeared on Indian Idol 15 inan episode that celebrated the first anniversary of the film. The episode showcased Vanga's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a renowned director, drawing both admiration and controversy.

During the episode, a contestant Myscmme Bosu shared she is an avid fan of Vanga’s film Animal. She revealed that she had watched the movie three times. This sparked a debate with fellow contestant Manasi, who had issues with certain scenes in the film. Myscmme expressed her frustration, saying, “I’ve tried to convince her about how Animal makes sense, but she’s not convinced. I want Sandeep Sir to explain it to her."

Manasi was not shy about voicing her concerns, particularly about one controversial scene. "There’s this scene with ‘mera joota chato,’ and I personally have a problem with it, Sir," she stated. Sandeep, visibly taken aback, responded, “You have a problem with the joota chato scene, but no problem with the hero killing 300 people?” Manasi retorted, “Yes, there is a problem.”

The conversation took a sharper turn when Manasi referenced Indian screenwriter, lyricist, and poet Javed Akhtar's recent comments on the movie. “Javed Akhtar said it’s dangerous for society, and I agree with him," she stated. Sandeep responded, “If Javed Ji wasn’t a lyricist or story writer, I’d take his words seriously.”

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Animal was received with mixed reactions with some praising its bold narrative while others criticising its portrayal of violence and certain controversial scenes. The Ranbir Kapoor starrer collected over Rs 900 crore worldwide.