Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the director of ‘Animal,’ had initially announced plans to release an extended version of the film on Netflix, featuring an additional 20 minutes of footage.
‘Animal,’ starring Ranbir Kapoor, has stirred up controversy regarding its OTT release. Currently, the film is enjoying a successful run in theatres and earning substantial revenue. Following its theatrical run, it is scheduled for release on Netflix. The film’s makers had originally intended to release an extended cut on Netflix.
However, it has come to light that Netflix will now only feature versions of Indian films approved by the Censor Board for theatrical screening. This policy shift has put the fate of ‘Animal’ in jeopardy.
In a recent interview, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga addressed the matter. He revealed that he had identified certain issues in the theatrical version of the film, which he intends to rectify for the OTT release.
The theatrical release of ‘Animal’ had a duration of 3 hours and 21 minutes, whereas the original film ran for 3 hours and 50 minutes. Sandeep Reddy Vanga had previously expressed that he had been compelled to edit the film for theaters but intended to bring the uncut 3 hours and 50 minutes version to OTT platforms.
Netflix’s New Direction:
Netflix, which acquired the digital rights of ‘Animal,’ has altered its policy. While Sandeep is aware of this change, his recent interview did not mention the shift in Netflix’s policies. He stated, “When I first watched the film, I noticed several issues. On a content level, I felt there were sound-related problems. The film was being released in five languages, and I lost track of which language’s sound I was checking. The last 20 days have been quite challenging for me. We spent three to four days sleeping in the sound mixing room. It shouldn’t have happened this way. We should have allowed at least one more week. I’m rectifying all these shortcomings in the Netflix version.“
Regarding the length of the OTT version of ‘Animal,’ Vanga explained, “I am editing the OTT version to address a few problems with a shot or two. I’m incorporating additional shots from the same takes. One thing I’ve realized is that I should have kept the film at its original 3 hours and 30 minutes length. It shouldn’t have been trimmed to 3 hours and 21 minutes. I’m unsure why I edited out those 8-9 minutes, but I plan to add back the extra 5-6 minutes to the film.”
While Sandeep aims to improve his film for its OTT release, there remains uncertainty about whether Netflix will permit these changes. It’s worth noting that the initial plan was to add 20 minutes of content to the OTT cut of ‘Animal,’ but now discussions are centered around adding only 5-6 minutes of additional footage.
‘Animal’ has already grossed over Rs 534 crore in India and boasts a global collection exceeding Rs 880 crore. The film features an ensemble cast including Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, Tripti Dimri, and Saurabh Sachdeva alongside Ranbir Kapoor.
