Actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi has finally shed light on the intriguing title of his much-awaited film Bandar / Monkey in a Cage directed by Anurag Kashyap, a name that has sparked curiosity since the project was first announced. In a candid statement, Dwivedi revealed how the title emerged organically during the film’s development and almost didn’t make the cut.
“I suggested ‘Bandar’, and then I myself started having second thoughts about it,” Dwivedi confessed. “But Anurag and everybody else by then had started to love the title so much that they said this title.”
The film, which is being helmed by Kashyap, follows a gritty and emotional journey of a man caught in the web of societal manipulation and systemic exploitation. Dwivedi explained that the metaphor of a ‘bandar’ (monkey) naturally arose during discussions about the protagonist’s struggles.
“When I was seeing the character’s journey, I kind of saw that usko har koi madari ki tarah idhar se udhar nacha raha tha (everyone was making him dance like a street monkey),” Dwivedi shared. “A lot of times Anurag unknowingly said that the system is making him dance like a monkey. And one day he casually mentioned it, and I said, ‘Why don’t we keep the title as Bandar?’”
Bandar premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film sees Bobby Deol in an avatar like never seen before. Critics are hailing Bobby’s complete transformation and believe that this could stand out as one of his finest performances of his career.
The film also has Sanya Malhotra in a pivotal role and has delivered a heart-rending performance. She has embodied her role with conviction, justifying her presence in this intense drama. Meanwhile, Saba Azad takes on the role of a young, fierce woman and portrays it with striking authenticity on screen. Sapna Pabbi is a surprise only to be experienced in the film and to talk about her role now may be giving too much away about the film.
Actor, Producer Nikhil Dwivedi, who has backed Bandar, continues his track record of backing uniquely different stories after Veere Di Wedding and CTRL. Bandar is written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee.
