Netizens have been divided into two sides ever since the release of 'Animal'. Many find it problematic that the movie allegedly glorifies toxic behaviour. Sandeep Reddy Vanga's first Hindi film, 'Kabir Singh', faced similar accusations.
While Wokes and Feminists have been calling out 'Animal' as characterless and morally sick, there have also been defenders, who are reminding the former of the approach of globally renowned filmmakers such as Scorsese. "Funny how conveniently some people forget that Scorsese had used slow-motion and rousing soundtracks to accompany some despicable characters in films like 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' but when Sandeep Reddy Vanga does an extreme, Indian version of that, it's suddenly "glorification"? (sic)," wrote journalist Sajin Shrijith.
"When Hollywood or some other foreign industry does it, it is cool. When an Indian does it, it is toxic. Is that what these guys are saying?" a Vanga fanboi asked.
There is another sort of double standard at play. Films like 'Gangs Of Wasseypur', which had problematic elements, have been endorsed gleefully by the same set of Wokes and Feminists. Is it because 'GOW' was set in a rural backdrop whereas 'Animal' is set in an urban landscape? If a rural film is problematic, it is raw but if an urban film is problematic, it suddenly becomes despicable.
