Sandeep Vanga’s Animal might have had great cinematography, action and acting but it lacked a good storyline and decent writing skills. Ranbir Kapoor lives up to the title of Animal but despite this he could not sell the character’s motives.
Animal tells the story of Vijay, played by Ranbir Kapoor, who is the only son of a wealthy family led by his father, Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor). The film explores Vijay’s life from childhood to adulthood, revealing how his need for love and approval leads to a cycle of violence. In an effort to protect his father, Vijay becomes involved in intense and brutal shootouts, culminating in the literal killing of hundreds of adversaries. The movie portrays the inner turmoil of Vijay and how it becomes a justification for the escalating brutality seen on screen.
The film boasts of aesthetic cinematography which has garnered praise for creating a dark and immersive atmosphere. The cinematography, coupled with a gripping background score, contributes to the film’s overall intensity. However, the technical brilliance does not overrule a lack of substance and an overemphasis on style over substance.
Ranbir Kapoor’s character does not have a good enough origin story. It is hard to accept that having an inattentive father would lead to such a hyperbolic obsession that puts one on a murder spree. Even if the obsession with his father was believable with the acting, the motive felt contrived.
The script is not cohesive and felt like a compilation of disjointed scenes. The film seems to believe it is edgy as it tries hard to sell jokes on sex and genitals that do not evoke laughter. The violence and sex did not add depth or layer to the film in a cerebral way and instead felt contrived and the reasoning manufactured.
If the point the film wanted to make by packing together misogyny and gore violence was a spectacle then it succeeded, but it was largely unnecessary and did not add anything to the film. There were way too many needless references to penises which sounded like it came straight out of a teenager who had just discovered cuss words.
Animal‘s problematic veneration of a misogynistic protagonist
The misogyny was off putting and sent across a problematic message. Kapoor’s character Vijay is deeply flawed but he is made out to be aspirational with a background score that venerates him every time he commits an act of violence and exhibits hypermasculinity.
The film irresponsibly celebrates misogyny and lacks a good plot. It carries itself with nothing but aggressive chest thumping of the hero screaming daddy issues. The audience’s applause was disconcerting when the lead spews misogynistic values. In one scene, when Vijay addresses a bunch of men, it appears as if he is talking directly to his audience where he instructs them to keep their women under control. He may not have hit his wife in the film but there were threats made to do so.
The character of his wife played by Rashmika Mandanna was underused and underdeveloped. She existed merely to add another shade to Kapoor’s character. She could not seem to stand her ground and was so easily swayed by the protagonist. Furthermore, the references to the women’s pelvis as birthing hips were just cringeworthy and juvenile. The power dynamic was disturbing between the couple and relationship lacked depth.
The film critic, Anupama Chopra who reviewed the film stated that her feelings for the film were similar to the female character, Zoya, who threw up at the end of the film.
Animal stands out as a departure from conventional Bollywood storytelling, reflecting a growing trend of experimental narratives. Some see this as a positive evolution for the industry, encouraging filmmakers to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. On the other hand, the film’s regressive elements risk setting a precedent that could undermine progress in on-screen representation and storytelling.
According to data from the trade analysis platform Sacnilk, the box office collection aligns with their findings, indicating that the film grossed Rs 356 crore within three days. This includes Rs 240.50 crore from the domestic market and Rs 115.50 crore from overseas markets.
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