'Sandeep Reddy Vanga Might Get Angry, But...': Swanand Kirkire Calls Out Problems In Animal Once Again
Lyricist Swanand Kirkire criticises Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 'Animal' for glorifying toxic masculinity and its overwhelming public acceptance. Read what he said about the film’s dialogue and message.
Lyricist, writer, and National Award-winning artist Swanand Kirkire has once again voiced his disappointment over the reception of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Animal', one of the biggest blockbusters of recent times. In a candid interview with The Lallantop, Kirkire shed light on what he believes are the deeply problematic aspects of the controversial film and its widespread acceptance, especially among the youth.
Swanand Kirkire on women characters in Indian cinema
Kirkire expressed that his concern wasn’t about the film’s existence but about the alarming ease with which audiences, particularly young women, embraced it. “Hindi cinema was once helping men like me, coming from places like Indore, understand what gender equality truly means. From Mehboob Khan’s 'Aurat' to Guru Dutt’s 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam' and Shoojit Sircar’s 'Piku', films taught audiences to look at women with empathy and respect. Even in Anurag Kashyap’s 'Dev D', women were portrayed as independent beings,” he said.
Animal's glorification of toxic masculinity
Referring to Animal's glorification of toxic masculinity, Kirkire remarked, “My issue isn’t with the film being made—it’s with the overwhelming acceptance it received. I remember the day I saw the film, I met a girl who had seen it twice. She said, ‘Bobby Deol is so hot.’ What disturbed me was how Sandeep Reddy Vanga rejected all forms of positive masculinity and instead glorified its most toxic form.”
Kirkire also called out a particular dialogue in Animal that mocked insecure men for becoming poets. “I don’t mind if that’s a perspective. But the film suggests that those who couldn’t be alpha males became poets, as if poetry is the last resort of insecure men. Ironically, the same film uses poetry and lyrics to transform Ranvijay into an alpha male. In the 'Arjan Vailly' sequence, where he slaughters hundreds, it’s not the visuals but the poetry and music that create the thrill. You dismiss poetry in one dialogue but can’t do away with it when you need it to hype up your hero. After this, Sandeep Reddy Vanga might get angry at me again, but that’s okay,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Swanand Kirkire has spoken out about Animal. When the film was first released, he had posted on X (formerly Twitter), “The glorious history of Indian cinema is being embarrassed.” The team of Animal, however, did not take his criticism lightly and responded to his post at the time.
About Animal
Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Anil Kapoor, has been one of the most talked-about films for its portrayal of masculinity, violence, and its polarising public reception.
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