Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Strong Counter to Former IAS Officer’s Criticism

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has strongly responded to remarks made by a former IAS officer regarding his recent film Animal. In an interview, Vanga countered the criticism, stating, “One can become an IAS officer by studying books and taking coaching in Delhi, but filmmaking cannot be learned merely by reading books.”

The controversy arose when former IAS officer Vikas Divyakirti, who played a UPSC professor in the film 12th Fail—based on the life of IPS officer Manoj Sharma—criticized Animal. During an interview promoting 12th Fail, Divyakirti remarked that films like Animal were unnecessary for society and that they were made solely for financial gain.

Responding to these comments, Vanga, in a recent interview, expressed his disappointment. He stated that Divyakirti’s remarks deeply hurt him and made him feel as if he had committed a crime. He dismissed the criticism as baseless and emphasized that while there are structured courses to prepare for the civil services, filmmaking and writing are fields where individuals must learn on their own and develop their craft through passion and experience.