A
“Currently dominating the Indian box office, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s explosive action film relies heavily on shocking elements but lacks depth. Vanga’s previous films, Arjun Reddy (2017) in Telugu and its Hindi remake Kabir Singh (2019), were both commercial successes but faced backlash for glorifying misogynistic and violent male characters. Unfortunately, Animal takes this to even darker levels, presenting one of the most despicable protagonists to ever appear on screen.”
Vijay, portrayed by renowned Hindi cinema actor Ranbir Kapoor, is the sole heir to a wealthy family. He grows up in the shadow of his father Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor), who is fully focused on running his steel company. Through various timelines, including Vijay’s childhood and later years, Animal delves into how his desire for love and validation leads to a vicious cycle of violence, with his inner struggles serving as an excuse for increasingly graphic shootout sequences. At one point, Vijay goes to extreme lengths, including killing numerous criminals, all in the name of protecting his father. While the excessive and disturbing violence aims to shock, the execution of the action scenes is forgettable and unoriginal, resembling a cheap imitation of The Godfather or Scarface.
Additionally, Vijay’s comments about alpha males and women’s submission, reminiscent of Andrew-Tate, appear to be crafted for the purpose of going viral, but leave a negative impression. Despite its clear intention to provoke, Animal lacks the courage to fully stand behind its controversial actions. For instance, the film uses a swastika as the symbol for Balbir’s company, but Vijay clarifies that it is not the same tilted swastika used by the Nazis. This insincere attempt at self-awareness only adds to the distasteful nature of the film’s flirtation with right-wing imagery.
Source: theguardian.com
