Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, after the release of Animal, expressed his dismay regarding the critics' reception of his film. He emphasized that movies aren't educational institutions and criticized the increasing sensitivity and "wokeness" among people in Mumbai and across India. Sandeep believes this heightened sensitivity isn't reflected in other areas besides the film industry.

Sandeep's take on critics' influence

Responding to questions about how films might impact audiences negatively, Sandeep stated that films aren't meant to be educational tools. He highlighted the critics' influence on the perception of films, mentioning that excessive negativity from critics could tarnish even an average movie, impacting its success at the box office.

When asked about the difference in his writing compared to other directors and writers, Sandeep said, “When somebody tells me that my film is very dark then I compare it with the world cinema. In comparison, I feel I am average. I want to reach there…the public can reach there but the critics can’t reach there. I make my films for the public but suppose Animal's box office run was stopped at Rs 250 crore or Rs 350 crore, the perception created by the critics… this film would have been declared a flop. My force against critics is such that they couldn’t stand but if this velocity was less, people would have thought critics were right.”

Sandeep reveals the impact that critics have on a film

Sandeep shared his concern about critics' sway over a movie's fate, explaining how their negative reviews could potentially label a moderately successful film as a failure. He stressed the critics' power to influence perceptions and outcomes, indicating that their opinions could overshadow a film's financial success and affect its reception by the audience.

Despite criticism for its portrayal of violence and toxic masculinity, Animal proved to be a major commercial success in 2023, raking in an impressive ₹869.85 crores worldwide.