Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movies, such as ‘Arjun Reddy’ (2017), its Bollywood remake ‘Kabir Singh’ (2019), and ‘Animal‘ (2023), have sparked discussions about violence and toxic masculinity in his storytelling. Even though the films were box office successes, a certain group of people expressed concerns about the political incorrectness in his narratives. In a recent interview, Vanga addressed the criticism and recurring themes in his films.
During a recent conversation with Komal Nahta on Game Changers, Vanga openly shared his perspective on human aggression and its suppression in modern society. When asked whether he relates to the violent nature of his protagonists, he remarked, “I cannot do that in a democracy. Otherwise, obviously; because the person opposite us would also do the same. If it were the Stone Age, he would do something, and you would react accordingly, right?”Vanga also discussed his stance on censorship, explaining why he supports it. He believes that censorship should be overseen by senior, retired directors rather than individuals who lack an understanding of filmmaking, as this would make the process easier for artists. He argued that an ex-filmmaker on the panel would have a better grasp of the creative process than a bureaucrat.
Additionally, Vanga prefers a classification-based approach to censorship, similar to Hollywood’s rating system, rather than outright content restrictions. “There should be censorship; otherwise, people would shoot anything and show it to audiences,” he acknowledged. However, he emphasised that structured age ratings, such as Hollywood’s R-rated system, would be more effective than unnecessary cuts.
Sandeep further shared his thoughts on how ratings influence box office performance. While he accepted the ‘A’ certificate for Animal, he was initially disappointed with the same classification for Kabir Singh. “We didn’t contest it because Arjun Reddy had also been given an ‘A’. Though I was upset then, the censor officer told me not to worry and even predicted that the movie would be a success,” he recalled.
