Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga is infamous for his controversial films, and if you detested Kabir Singh, watching Animal might make you reassess, considering it seems more polished than his recent work. Despite its toxic elements, it has emerged as the biggest box-office success of 2023.
Animal narrates the tale of a man whose turbulent relationship with his father propels him into a realm of darkness and violence that is shocking. The film is not just misogynistic but also remarkably insensitive, glorifying crime in an appalling manner.
Celebrating violence doesn’t justify anything, and that’s precisely what Animal seems to do. If you were hoping to enjoy this movie with popcorn and a drink, be warned – it might leave you feeling nauseous.
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The troubled childhood depicted by Ranbir Kapoor’s character suggests a narrative where such a man could be molded, forcing viewers to contemplate before having a son. For Vijay (Ranbir Kapoor), love appears more like lust and entitlement. His marriage proposal is cringe-worthy enough to turn your stomach.
The portrayal suggests that a son doesn’t become a criminal overnight due to one incident; perhaps, he already had underlying psychological issues. The film attempts to depict the concept of “khoon ka rishta” in the bloodiest manner possible, with a strong emphasis on the scent of blood. Glorifying alpha men is not an ideal storytelling approach.
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Problematic, misogynistic characters are not a bright way of storytelling and that must stop at the earliest. A one-line story stretched beyond limit, could have been done better with a backstory trying to show how to mend the father-son relationship minus the violence.