There should be open discourse without calls for bans: Manoj

South films' stories are completely their own: Manoj

Film people, should understand audience's signal: Manoj

Animal directed by Sandeep Vanga Reddy has become a source of controversy ever since its release. A portion of the film industry and critics have felt the depiction of the male-female relationship in the film was misogynistic. Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee has given his opinion amidst the controversy. “I am very clear, if many people disagree or don’t like a film, what’s wrong with that? The film is released, does its business, and moves on. The money goes into the producer’s pocket; let them take it; they invested in the movie. If you don’t want to watch it, then don’t. If you disagree with something, it’s better not to watch it, but don’t create trouble for the movie. You will be only encouraging a bad notion by doing so, what if others hinder your work in the same way? There should be open discourse without calls for bans or protests,” he said in an interaction with Pinkvilla.  

He also talked about the phenomenon of commercial films coming from southern India doing phenomenally well in the box office. He talked about the films being rooted in the ethos of its viewers. “In most of the films, the audience wants to see something else and the signal is coming from them. We, the film people, should understand the signal. We need to find out why South films are working. The mainstream directors in the South practice shot-taking after watching all kinds of films. But their films’ stories are completely their own. Their films are so culturally rooted. South films’ heroes wear lungi. Aur action k pehle woh lungi upar karta hai aur woh action karta hai” (Before doing an action scene, they fix their lungi),” Manoj added.