Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has sparked a fresh debate on film criticism and audience expectations with a series of posts about Bandar, the recently released Bobby Deol-starrer directed by Anurag Kashyap. Over the last two hours, Gupta shared three tweets praising the film while humorously questioning the way some critics review movies.
The director first expressed his excitement about the response to Bandar, writing, "Hearing such wonderful things about BANDAR. Looks like both Bobby and Anurag have hit it out of the park. Kudos to Nikhil for backing it. Really hope it ignites the box office. I have a gut feeling it will." His post reflected optimism about the film's commercial prospects and appreciation for the team behind the project.
Gupta then turned his attention to film criticism with a satirical exchange that quickly caught attention online. Mocking overly academic reviews, he imagined a conversation where a critic describes the film as being "captive to its own parochial provocations" and driven by a "subconscious yearning for socio-political redemption," only for the audience to respond with a simple request: "SEEDHA SEEDHA BOLO YAAR." In another tweet, he joked that critics were originally meant to answer three straightforward questions—whether a film is entertaining, whether the screenplay works, and whether it is worth watching in theatres—but now seem more interested in psychoanalyzing filmmakers.
The comments come as Bandar continues to generate discussion among viewers and critics alike. Released on June 5, 2026, the crime thriller, internationally titled Monkey in a Cage, is inspired by real events and follows a man dealing with false rape accusations and the harsh realities of prison life. The film explores themes of justice, media scrutiny, and societal judgment, making it one of the most talked-about releases of the week.
Gupta's tweets have reignited a long-running debate in Indian cinema: should critics focus on deeper thematic analysis, or simply tell audiences whether a film is worth their time and money? While some social media users agreed with his call for simpler reviews, others argued that criticism has always been about examining films beyond entertainment value. Either way, Gupta's now-viral "SEEDHA SEEDHA BOLO YAAR" remark has struck a chord with moviegoers and added another layer to the conversation surrounding Bandar.