“Audience Must Be Smart, Filmmakers Are Here To Entertain, Not Educate”: Amrit Raj Gupta On Impact Of Films Like ‘Animal’

Though almost a year has passed since Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal hit theaters, the film remains a hot topic due to its stunning visuals and intense narrative. Earning mixed reactions, while some viewers appreciated its visual appeal, others found the brutal violence and portrayal of women problematic. The debate over its impact on the audience continues and recently, Gullak and Tribhuvan Mishra: CA Topper director Amrit Raj Gupta shared his views on the matter.

In a recent interview with Digital Commentary, Amrit Raj Gupta was asked if he found Animal problematic. To this, he responded in Hindi saying, “Mujhe toh bada mazza aaya” (I really enjoyed it). He further elaborated, “I have a point here. As a filmmaker, how would you handle this?” Sharing an anecdote, he recalled the release of Salman Khan’s 2003 film Tere Naam.

He explained, “When Tere Naam came out, the middle-parted haircut became famous. I remember my cousin, in the village where I grew up, copied that hairstyle. Whike, you know how North Indians has this obsession with hairstyles. Seeing this, my uncle beat him so much that my cousin ran away to Delhi. Can you imagine? He was beaten just for a haircut!”

Amrit Raj Gupta then shifted the conversation toward the responsibility of the audience. He remarked, “See, films do have an impact on people. If you’re saying films don’t influence audiences, well, ‘Audience bhi samajhdaar honi chahiye’ (The audience must be smart).” He emphasized that it’s not entirely a filmmaker’s duty to ensure how viewers interpret their films, noting, “As a filmmaker we are here to entertain, not to educate.”

Gupta’s perspective suggests that the audience should be able to differentiate between entertainment and real-life behaviour. His remarks add another dimension to the ongoing debate about the social responsibility of films like Animal, Tere Naam and their potential to influence viewers.

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