Sandeep Reddy Vanga Stuck in a Fixed Pattern?
After making films with a troubled doctor as the protagonist in Arjun Reddy and a volatile gangster in Animal, Sandeep Reddy Vanga is now working on Spirit (Aajanubavudu), which reportedly glorifies an honest police officer
Sandeep Reddy Vanga is often hailed as a new-age filmmaker, but an ongoing debate questions whether he is truly evolving or merely following a set pattern. There is no doubt that the excitement and response to the first look of Spirit were extremely high, driven largely by Prabhas’s much-discussed appearance. His intense screen presence and so-called alpha energy triggered widespread social media chatter.
However, a producer points out that most of Vanga’s films are A-rated and revolve around similar visual and thematic traits. The male protagonist is typically portrayed with a thick beard, long hair, dark shades and a violent, self-destructive attitude. Smoking, drinking, bruises, rage and explicit sexual content remain recurring elements.
“These traits have become too familiar in Sandeep’s films. Beyond these repeated visuals, there isn’t much imagination left. He is definitely following a pattern rather than breaking new ground,” says a senior producer, speaking on condition of anonymity. The producer also warns that such a recycled template may not sustain audience interest forever.
Drawing a comparison with Ram Gopal Varma, the producer adds, “Vanga claims to be RGV's disciple, but he no match to RGV, who explored a wide range of themes—from Rangeela to Satya, Company to Sarkar. RGV is far ahead in terms of variety and his ability to underplay heroism.”
After making films with a troubled doctor as the protagonist in Arjun Reddy and a volatile gangster in Animal, Sandeep Reddy Vanga is now working on Spirit (Aajanubavudu), which reportedly glorifies an honest police officer. Producer Lagadapati Sridhar believes Spirit could offer something different. “Sandeep would have definitely designed a multilayered role for Prabhas that breaks away from routine police stories,” he says.
Speaking about Animal and Kabir Singh, and the criticism that Vanga’s style is becoming repetitive, Sridhar remarks, “He is a master storyteller, but some of his films do promote toxic masculinity. However, audiences have embraced it. A section of viewers enjoys such chauvinistic narratives, and he has catered to their tastes successfully. The films turned out to be blockbusters.”
Recalling his personal association with the filmmaker, Sridhar says he was among the first to hear the story of Arjun Reddy. “I was bowled over by the aggressive characterization of the hero. I immediately felt it would work in Bollywood. However, I had reservations about making it in Telugu due to my conservative mindset. Sandeep moved on and proved his mettle in both Telugu cinema and Bollywood with his daring execution.”
Sridhar concludes by drawing parallels between Ram Gopal Varma, Anurag Kashyap and Sandeep Reddy Vanga as filmmakers known for glorifying dark characters and exploring bold themes. "They made dark characters mainstream and broke the template of heroes being good, lovable and soft and yet making box office records."
