Robin Bhuyan (Editor-in-Chief)
Warning: If you are someone who is inclined towards liberal or feminist ideologies, if you are even someone who is weak-hearted, this film is not for you. It is a film that will not just give you a roller-coaster of emotions, and take you on a ride, but it might also stir intense disgust in some parts. Needless to say, the film is entertaining as hell, and doesn’t lose its grip or bore you for a bit, but the question is- Can one digest 3.5 hours of extreme violence and gore in one film?
Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who is known for directing Arjun Reddy in 2017, and later its Hindi counterpart Kabir Singh in 2019, has a penchant for creating controversial narratives. His previous films received criticism for showing toxic behavior and obsession, but still it connected well with a lot of people. It also received heavy criticism from feminist critics, although their problem was limited to just a few scenes, rather than the movie’s theme of “toxic and obsessive love” as a whole, which the movies indirectly seemed to glorify.
Coming to Vanga’s latest movie Animal, Vanga assembles a stellar cast with Ranbir Kapoor as the lead character, with Rashmika Mandana, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor in supporting roles. There was a lot of hype around this movie, and it was believed that it would change Indian cinema forever. And yes, it definitely does! It will be hard to point out a movie in the history of cinema with this level of violence and blood!
The film does an excellent job when it comes to entertaining the audiences with an engaging screenplay. The characters could have been written in a better way, but still, to an extent, audiences do seem to feel a connection with them. Many people might also find this movie politically right leaning, due to several obvious reasons, but regardless, if you see it just for entertainment, there is nothing much to worry about.
Despite the engaging screenplay and brilliant acting by Ranbir Kapoor, the film fails in one department: The Story! Considering the budget of the film and the star cast, there was a lot of potential. But the film stretches on for hours, and what do we get for a story? A typical family revenge drama! So much violence, so much blood, and so much excitement- all for a story that can be called below average.
If we talk about the main character, people who had a problem with the slapping scene in Kabir Singh, are going to be majorly upset. Justifying adultery in the name of “protecting his father” is something many people will find problematic, whether they are feminist or not. If you are consuming the film just for entertainment, there is nothing wrong in it. But question is- To what extent will this film influence the youths?
Talking about the villain, Bobby Deol’s potential seem to be wasted, as they clearly could have written a much better character, rather than a mute gangleader, whose only motive is to take revenge for his father.
Since the post-Covid situation, it seems that although audiences do prefer a good story, they prefer theatres only if the movie provides a larger-than-life experience. Take examples of the majority of the commercially hit movies released post 2020- RRR, KGF, Jawan, Pathan, Brahmastra, and now Animal, which is also sure to be a major hit at the box office, all these movies seem to show this trend, featuring big budgets along with extravagant characters and stories.
If we talk about movies like RRR, despite being unrealistic, the film does a good job of portraying Indian culture in a brilliant way on the big screen, which is why it earned huge appreciation and craze internationally. It gave us energetic songs that people from all over the world connected with. However, if we talk about Animal, the film is not just unrealistic, but leaves viewers pondering whether the director or writer seeks to convey any message through the movie.
So, if you are a fan of Ranbir Kapoor’s acting, which undoubtedly requires praise, or if you love extreme violence, or if just want to spend some time watching an entertaining flick, then the film is definitely for you. However, if you are a liberal or a feminist, or if you only prefer movies with a logical storyline, then it is best to skip it.
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars
