BOLLYWOOD
Ranbir Kapoor's Animal is more violent than any Bollywood film ever and more toxic than Sandeep Reddy Vanga's previous outings and despite all that, it is quite entertaining.
Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, Tripti Dimri, Charu Shankar, Shakti Kapoor, Suresh Oberoi, Saurabh Sachdeva, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Saloni Batra
Where to watch: Theatres
Rating: 3 stars
As the show for Animal ended, there were two kinds of people in the theatre. One, who stood up and applauded being very vocal about the ‘masterpiece’ they just watched. The second couldn’t wait to leave the theatre quite visibly disturbed by it. That is Sandeep Reddy Vanga for you. His cinema is so divisive that it is a little bit funny. Animal takes everything that was problematic about Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh and increases it several notches. It is downright the most violent Hindi film I have seen, and also one of the most inherently toxic and misogynist. The amazing part is that it is still very well made and entertaining, enhanced further by yet another great performance from Ranbir Kapoor.
Animal is the story of Rannvijay (Ranbir), whose only goal in life is to make his father Balbir (Anil Kapoor) proud. But this short-tempered violent ‘alpha male’ often falls short and Balbir, being one of India’s richest men, hardly has time for his wayward son. When Balbir is shot, Rannvijay returns home after years with his wife Geetanjali (Rashmika) and two kids in tow. In complete Michael Corleone style, he takes over the family business and begins a blood-filled saga of vengeance against his father’s attackers, which leads him to the mysterious Abrar (Bobby Deol).
I know Animal will be divisive. Some will love it, some will loathe it. There will be very few in between. It is hard to evaluate a Sandeep Reddy Vanga film. They are technically well made, well shot, well scored, and great to watch. But the messaging remains very toxic and problematic. Animal is no different. In parts, it looks like Vanga is answering his critics for the problems they pointed out in Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh. Scratch that, he is often mocking them, recreating some scenes and even heightening some situations that many had criticised.
If you felt Kabir Singh was pushing it with misogyny, wait till you get a load of Animal. The film does everything from reducing women to bystanders to totally romanticising infidelity. Without context, there is a whole tender romantic song in the film centred on what is essentially an illicit relationship. It justifies abuse, even glorifies it, and at times, projecs the protagonist’s problematic views as some sort of evolved pragmatism.
But it is all neatly packaged in a very slick, stylised, and brilliantly edited film. The editing is extremely good and the pacing quick, at least in the first half. Some of the action sequences are choreographed very well with the mass moments scored perfectly. In fact, the 203 minute duration does not seem so bad if you can stomach the violence and gore in it. And yes, there is a lot of that going around. I haven't seen so much blood displayed so brazenly in a Bollywood film. So be prepared to stomach all that.
Ranbir Kapoor is amazing, carrying the film on his shoulders. His acting and Vanga's gaze put this unlikable, toxic protagonist on a pedestal. And Ranbir does a great job in making him feel like the hero. As the titular character, the film’s arc focusses only on him and despite that intense amount of spotlight, Ranbir never wavers, bringing to life this ‘superhero of incels’ and even making his appealing.
Sadly, every other character os reduced to second fiddle. Rashmika Mandanna struggles to own the scenes. While the trailer did a great disservice to her by putting out her worst scenes and she does fare better in the film, she isn’t exactly very watchable. The less screen time of Bobby Deol and Tripti Dimri rankles because they don't get to showcase their range fully. Bobby, in particular, had a chance to bring to us a great villain, but we hardly get to see him on screen for the villain to really have an impact. Anil Kapoor is good but does not truly leave an impact.
The first half truly leaves an impact. It is cleverly written and even more impressively edited so full marks to Vanga for that. The background score and songs – particularly Arjan Vailly – truly elevate the viewing experience. Yes, the Gatling gun sequences looks better in the theatre and yes, it would have probably been a better idea to not reveal it in the trailer. It would have been better to experience it for the first time in the theatre. But the film tapers off in the second half, becoming so convoluted and long drawn with several scenes dragging out for much longer than they should. The neatly packaged film begins to come apart at the seams at times.
But regardless of all that, Animal is what I call a review-proof film. Those who want to watch it, will regardless of what people say. But to those interested, I have just one advice - don't go for messaging, go for entertainment, and you might be able to overlook everything problematic, and even all the blood.
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH
Meet MS Dhoni’s sister Jayanti Gupta who works as teacher, is married CSK star's...
Pakistani TikTok star Minhal Malik's popularity soars in India, sees unprecedented 100-time surge
Seo Hyun Jin dramatically apologises to BTS ARMY, says 'I know a lot of...'
Amid threats of violent protests, Brampton Triveni temple cancels event
Mike Waltz, India caucus head, named Donald Trump's National Security Advisor
Mukesh Khanna returns as Shaktimaan, 90s kids dance with joy
This Indian man owns a train, he's not Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, has net worth of...
SSC CHSL Exam 2024 admit cards to be released today at ssc.gov.in; get direct link here
‘He will play his last game in…’: CSK CEO provides massive update on MS Dhoni’s IPL future