Gazal Dhaliwal, acclaimed for her work on Netflix’s “Mismatched,” has taken a stand against the director of “Animal,” Sandeep Reddy Vanga, accusing him of failing to acknowledge co-writers and monopolizing credit for the film’s screenplay.
In a recent Instagram post, Dhaliwal highlighted the prominence given to Vanga in the opening credits of “Animal” as the “Writer-Editor-Director,” expressing her dismay over his singular claim to the writing credits. She criticized the prevalent trend among certain filmmakers who, despite collaborative screenplay and dialogue efforts, assert themselves as the sole writers, attributing it to a deep-rooted desire for power.
Dhaliwal stressed that while Vanga contributed to the story, other writers involved in crafting the screenplay and dialogues, including Pranay Reddy Vanga, Suresh Bandaru, and Saurabh Gupta, were sidelined and not duly recognized for their creative input.
Drawing attention to a specific scene in the film where the protagonist discusses historical female attraction to alpha males and the role of beta males in using poetry to gain attention, Dhaliwal implied a parallel between this narrative and the alleged reluctance of certain filmmakers, notably Vanga, to share the “Writer” credit.
Expressing her disappointment over this alleged behavior, Dhaliwal highlighted the pettiness in withholding credit from co-writers, emphasizing the significance of acknowledging the contributions made by all involved in the storytelling process.
The post garnered attention from Dhaliwal’s peers in the industry, including filmmaker Tanuja Chandra, co-writer of “Qarib Qarib Singlle,” who expressed her support and appreciation for Dhaliwal’s sentiments.
This critique by Dhaliwal opens up discussions regarding the nuances of credit sharing and recognition in filmmaking, highlighting the importance of honoring collaborative efforts behind the scenes. As “Animal” continues to make waves at the box office, this controversy sheds light on the often-overlooked aspect of crediting in the industry, sparking conversations about fair acknowledgment and transparency in film credits.
Sources By Agencies
