Anurag Kashyap, the celebrated Indian filmmaker, has unleashed a scathing critique of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos following the latter's recent remarks about the streaming giant's entry into the Indian market. The controversy stems from Sarandos's appearance on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, where he reflected on Netflix's initial strategy in India and questioned whether launching with "Sacred Games" was the ideal choice.
Sarandos suggested that perhaps a more "populist" offering might have been a better starting point. This comment has evidently not sat well with Kashyap, who co-created "Sacred Games," Netflix's first Indian original series, along with Vikramaditya Motwane.
Kashyap took to social media to express his displeasure, posting a screenshot of a news report about Sarandos's statement. In a fiery post on Threads, Kashyap sarcastically suggested that Netflix "should have started with Saas Bahu," referring to popular Indian soap operas, implying that Sarandos is now pursuing this strategy through a partnership with Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms.
The filmmaker didn't hold back, stating, "I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to story telling, but @tedsarandos is the definition of dumb is what I didn't know. Good to discover that. This explains everything now." This blunt assessment underscores Kashyap's frustration with what he perceives as a lack of understanding of the Indian audience and storytelling nuances on Sarandos's part.
"Sacred Games," starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was a critical and commercial success upon its release in 2018. The show was lauded for its gritty portrayal of crime and its complex narrative. However, the second season received mixed reviews, and the series was eventually canceled.
Sarandos, on the podcast, acknowledged that it took Netflix a couple of years to find its footing in the Indian market. He explained that "Sacred Games" was a novel concept, a TV show that felt as big as a movie with movie stars. However, he admitted that he didn't fully grasp that they were introducing a completely new form of entertainment to a country as vast and diverse as India.
Kashyap's outburst isn't entirely surprising, given his past criticisms of Netflix. In a 2023 interview, he expressed disappointment over the streamer's decision to shelve "Maximum City," a project he had dedicated a year and a half to writing. He revealed that the cancellation, which occurred just days before the start of preparations, had a significant impact on his health, leading to depression and heart attacks.
He has also criticized Netflix for not proceeding with David Fincher's "Mindhunter" despite its enthusiasm for "House of Cards". This latest salvo against Sarandos highlights a growing discontent among some Indian filmmakers who feel that Netflix has lost its way in the Indian market, prioritizing commercially safe content over more innovative and risk-taking projects. The director had previously called Netflix India a "sh*t show".
