This wasn’t my final cut: Anurag Kashyap says criticism of Bandar was ‘quite valid’
Anurag Kashyap said on Kunal Kamra’s channel that he cannot own the released cut of Bandar. He said that studio editing changed the perspective of the film, thereby legitimizing criticism against it.
Anurag Kashyap has said that his latest film is being criticized, Monkeywas “pretty legitimate”, which revealed that he deliberately stayed away from promoting the film as the version released in theaters was not his final cut. Whereas Monkey While it was better received than many of his recent films, it also faced backlash from some audiences who described it as misogynistic and contrary to the MeToo movement.
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The film is based on a woman’s allegation of sexual harassment against a former television star. Speaking on Kunal Kamra’s YouTube channel, Kashyap said that he could not completely stand with the version that was released, although he suggested that the final outcome was beyond his control.
Kamra said that Kashyap had earlier advised him not to watch Monkey. Explaining the reason for this, the filmmaker said, “When I said don’t watch, it was because I couldn’t accept it. If you noticed, I didn’t give any interviews on the film. Because whatever came out is not my final cut. So, the criticism the film received is quite valid.”
He said that the film became “kind of unbalanced” after the changes. He said, “I wanted to present something that I could stand up for. As a result, I couldn’t stand up against the criticisms of the film.”
When asked why directors still do not have a proper system in place to protect their final cut, Kashyap said that contractual agreements often lose relevance after a studio takes over. According to him, delays increase production costs, turn films into financial liabilities and the decision to release a particular version is left in the hands of the studio rather than the filmmaker.
The director also said that the film industry has become increasingly corporatized. He said, unlike before, many producers now prioritize commercial success over creative conviction. He said the limited number of major production houses has reduced the options for filmmakers, with many independent films being delayed as studios hold back multiple releases. Kashyap reiterated that the criticism Monkey Justified, he said, “Therefore I will not say anything against it.”
Reflecting on the audience reaction, Kashyap said he was relieved that some of the audience understood what he wanted to say. He said that those who were familiar with the subject matter immediately understood the film’s perspective, while others needed to see it to understand its point of view.
He stated that the visual language of the film is his own, but argued that editorial changes may have changed its meaning. He said, “Whatever was there was created by me. I shot it. But what they edited really affected the outcome.” He said that removing key parts changed the perspective of the film.
Monkey Stars Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Indrajith Sukumaran, Raj B Shetty and Jitendra Joshi. The film’s cinematography is by Syed Shaz Rizvi, while editing is by Aarti Bajaj.