Released in December last year, “Animal” sparked a divisive response within both the online community and the film industry, with some embracing its violent drama thriller elements while others condemned it as a deeply problematic depiction that undermines women.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Animal” emerged as one of the major box office successes of 2023. While the film garnered praise from many quarters, it also faced backlash and was criticized for its portrayal of violence. Numerous viewers found fault with the dialogues, labelling them as ‘misogynistic’.
Recently, at an event, dialogue writer Saurabh Gupta came forward to defend the film, addressing the criticism surrounding the portrayal of a Muslim character. Speaking with screenwriter Ghazal Dhaliwal at FICCI Frames, Saurabh Gupta stood up for the film’s dialogues, particularly referencing the controversial “pad-change” line.
He stated, “In cinema, making men understand the importance of sanitary napkins, discouraging smoking and drinking, all of these have become heavy burdens. Let’s lighten up a bit and have some fun.”
“Animal” also starred Bobby Deol in the role of Abrar Haque. His character’s dialogues and the backstory of his family’s conversion sparked accusations of ‘Islamophobia’. Responding to this, Gupta stated, “We felt it logically fit within the script… Now, we are realizing that there’s another perspective as well. However, the hero (Ranbir) is portrayed as much of a villain as the antagonist (Bobby). He’s Hindu, but no one claimed that his portrayal was negative.”
“Animal” was released on December 1st and is set to have a sequel titled “Animal Park”. The film also featured Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri, and Shakti Kapoor in significant roles.
