DYK Animal's Title Card Comes After 50 Minutes? Sandeep Vanga Reddy Reveals WHY

Ranbir

Kapoor-starrer Animal may have divided audiences with its intense themes, but one creative choice that left many viewers intrigued was the unusually late appearance of the film’s title card. Instead of opening credits, the title flashes nearly 50 minutes into the film - a rarity in Indian cinema. Now, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has finally explained the reasoning behind this bold decision. Speaking during a press conference held ahead of Animal’s Japan premiere, the filmmaker revealed how the delayed title was a carefully designed narrative choice rather than a stylistic gimmick.

When Sandeep Reddy Vanga got creative with Animal title card

During the interaction, Sandeep Reddy Vanga explained that traditionally, films - whether in India or Hollywood - introduce their titles right at the beginning. However, he felt that Animal needed a different approach. According to the director, the title design itself demanded time and context, as it wasn’t meant to be a simple text reveal but a carefully constructed visual moment.

Vanga shared that he had imagined the title card’s design long before the film was completed. The idea involved a gradual build-up, with the letters descending, accompanied by a gunshot, creating a sense of impact and menace. He said, "I thought first in the interval, but I thought it would be too late because it's almost two hours interval." The filmmaker admitted that he initially considered placing the title card at the interval point, but later, he chose a moment when the protagonist’s darker side fully reveals itself. For Vanga, the title had to appear when viewers finally see the 'animal' within the character, making the reveal more powerful.He further explained that this was also his attempt to break away from conventional filmmaking norms. By delaying the title card, he wanted audiences to first absorb the character’s transformation and emotional journey. The director added, "That's purely trying to be a little different from what usual films do. And at the same time, waiting for a point where you see the character completely, see the animal side of him. That's the whole idea."

Other Bollywood films that have done the same

Animal's title card comes in after Ranbir Kapoor's character brutally kills his own brother-in-law for attempting to murder his father. As he casually eats and talks about his underwear, we see the word Animal flash on our screens.While Animal is one of the rare films to reveals the title card after 50 minutes, there are a few other examples in Bollywood. Omkara (2006) and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl (2011) placed it around the 30 minute mark, while No One Killed Jessica (2011) displayed the title during the interval - after the main plot was established. This unique touch definitely contributed to making Animal a special film.