Animal: A Cinematic Odyssey of Obsession and Brutality

The creature that was released upon humankind, known only as Animal, teeters on the precipice between obsession and the abyss of insanity. As you strive to make sense of it all—the gorefest is only one aspect of it; the acts are mostly driven by internal motivations—you begin to realize that there is some kind of narrative and structure, and that the creator is making an effort to explain everything. As of right now, it all feels like a fever dream, so questions about logic (like the total lack of law enforcement in all proceedings, how they could possibly dispose of all the dead bodies discreetly as the body count went off the charts, and the origin of the protagonist's insane firearm/axe-wielding/combat skills) can be blown off by a bazooka (or shoved under the carpet). Furthermore, rationality has no place in one. You also can't say for sure that you enjoyed being in one. It's enough to say that I was drawn to Ranbir Kapoor, dubbed the "Animal," because of his unwavering belief in his identity as Ranvijay Balbir Singh. A special mention should also go to Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Triptii Dimri among the other cast members. Moral: We know where to discover the amazing animals that Sandeep Redddy Vanga portrays in all of his protagonists—and in Animal, almost every character. (Why did I like/dislike Animal: December 2)

Krishna Kumar

I saw a Hindi film for the first time in a long time, and it had a great plot, amazing action, funny dialogue, and Ranbir Kapoor looking very trendy in his new appearance. This is more of a drama than an action film. Each performer gives an outstanding performance. Certain scenarios are difficult to convey effectively, such as murdering someone and then having a sexual relationship with blood all over you or dancing in public while naked. I will not give away the significant post-credits sequence. A warning to prospective viewers: Animal is not appropriate for younger or family audiences since it includes violent, graphic, and sexual themes. Because of its adult material, this dramatic cinematic experience is advised to be seen with care. Even though I'm not a huge admirer, I think Ranbir Kapoor's performance is nothing short of extraordinary. Another notable performance was that of Rashmika Mandanna. I really liked how the poignant moments had a feeling of realism to them.

Debojit Swarnaker

We are only living in Ranbir Kapoor's period. We are shown what true violence looks like by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. This film illustrates the detrimental effects of toxic parenting on a child's upbringing and the subsequent emergence of a troubled personality. He develops into a typical "alpha male" who never hesitates to use violence or aggression and has little regard for individual or marital privacy. The combat scene when Ranvijay used an axe to cut the heads of the other gang was one of the more exciting parts of the first half, in my opinion. The connection between Rashmika and Ranbir was more than anticipated. However, there were moments when it was quite difficult to understand what it was that she was trying to communicate. Bobby Deol had an excellent on-screen presence; when he appeared in the second half with that ear-pleasing backing music, the crowd was almost roaring. It wasn't necessary to show the scene when Vijay (Ranbir) cheated on Geetanjali (Rashmika) with Zoya (Triptii Dimri). Vanga should have given Bobby more screen time; it would have been preferable. Every time Anil Kapoor and Ranbir made an appearance together, it was thrilling. Anil Kapoor, Vijay's father, would not stop shouting, "Hamara beta criminal hain," even though it was becoming old. We are forced to consider Vijay's character because of his conflicting acts and demands from others. All in all, Ranbir's portrayal of this character combines passion, anger, and bravery. Even though we've been inundated with his romantic comedy movies, the action thriller he capably portrayed was well worth the wait. Sandeep Reddy Vanga gave Hindi film something very remarkable.

Mandal Ishika

On the first Sunday morning, I saw Animal in a crowded theater and was amazed. While there are some logical moments in the movie, it is expecting too much for a movie of this nature. Numerous conversations struck me as problematic and portrayed toxic masculinity and a patriarchal viewpoint; this is a Vanga trait, and I can live with it. Vanga made it apparent that Ranvijay is a flawed character and should not be idolized or followed. The actor Ranbir Kapoor is someone whom everyone should adore. What an incredible, mind-blowing performance!

Although I wasn't a big fan of Ranbir as an action hero, he did such a great job that I now believe he is most likely the finest action hero in the business right now. With the exception of the Triptii Dimri aspect, Vanga's narrative is really captivating. Perhaps it gave the movie some perspective, and I'm sure she will have more to say in the next installment. I was blown away by this movie's soundtrack. Harshavardhan has performed well. Everything about it seemed amazing, from Bobby Deol's eerie opening music to the Electric Roja song and Arjan vaily. Music served as a transitional element that made it easier to navigate the movie. Probably one of the finest opening halves in Indian film history. I believe that the movie might have finished there, and the second half of Animal could have been continued. Although there is a lot of discussion on the violence in the film, it was intentional. Vanga, a devoted follower of Martin Scorsese, displayed a deft display of brutality. I'm excited for the next one and will definitely remember this for a long time!

Rajarshi Das

The amazing performances are what really stand out among the extreme violence and mayhem. Music has a catchy quality. Though at times her accent was a little difficult to understand, Rashmika's spectacular performance made her a winner. Although unusual, her connection with Ranbir is fantastic. Anil Kapoor gives a strong performance as the cruel father. The father-son arguments have been resolved in a very responsible and restrained manner. Ranbir gives a performance of a lifetime in his role as the destructively obsessed son. Those fiery and deceiving eyes say so much. You will be moved to tears by his innocence even if he has taken on animal tendencies. As the ruthless lion guarding his family's forest, Ranbir is a terrific actor. Taking into account his kind and romantic persona, I believe this to be his best and most challenging performance. Although Bobby Deol seems potential, his screen time is both too little and too little. For me, the overt use of firearms and the glorifying of violence are major drawbacks. I cannot support such a blood-game celebration. However, despite its lengthy running length, Animal is a full-on paisa, dimaag, and jigra vasool film that provides your senses an adrenaline rush.

Gupta Saurav

This movie, or what passes for a movie, is poisonous beyond a bottle of Russell's viper venom. It is preferable to avoid it. It turned into such savage, hypermasculine, and sexist trash within the first ten minutes that nothing could save it. Rather of seeing toxicity with condemnation, it exalts it. It views violence and devastation with a sick delight. Sandeep Vanga wants us to enjoy this brutality rather than detest it. As Vijay murders and maims his opponents, his squad sings songs in unison. Worshiping the protagonist's animalism is the worst aspect, and there is a flimsy, one-line explanation for the slaughter. Even though the character is fundamentally disgusting, Ranbir manages to pull off another convincing performance, shedding his reputation as the chocolate kid. Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor portray one-note characters who are completely squandered in the chaos. Most of the women are marginalized or portrayed as commodities with so-called empty minds that one of them dumps her fiancé in favor of marrying a man who claims to be an alpha male. Ahh! Beyond just being a poor movie, Animal is a risky movie that is incorrect in every way.

Ghosh Indranil

Animal is a brutal and heartbreaking brute force of a movie, carried high by Ranbir Kapoor's career-defining performance. Apart from the screenplay's toxic masculinity aspects, Ranbir is the one who gives Animal its raw, feral, deadly, and destructive personality via his tremendous physicality and violent recklessness. His flawless "execution" alone is reason enough to see the movie. With an electric background score, Vanga masterfully directs an intensely dramatic, intensely emotional, and unrestrained symphony of ultraviolent filmmaking. He then indulgently allows his skilled actors, or rather "animals," to roam ruthlessly in his cinematic "park," where law and order is absurdly absent. Ranbir's vast versatility is seen in the post-credits scene, when his portrayal of Aziz differs from Ranvijay in the same essential ways that Vanga's directing approach differs from, say, Karan Johar's.

Bhaduri Anamitra

In terms of gender sensitivity and progressiveness, popular Indian masala films have always been at the absolute bottom. Watching Animal gives the impression that our civilization as a whole, not just Indian film, has reached a new low. It seems like a three-hour hate rant throughout the whole movie.

I have nothing more to contribute to the long list of ridiculous moments from the movie that everyone in his right mind has already discussed, including the marital rape scenes, the support of sexual and conjugal violence, sexist humor, objectification, and Oedipal obsession. The manner that each of the film's actors and other well-known Bollywood figures have been defending certain instances of its immoral content is what I found most fascinating. The key takeaway has been Bobby Deol's assertion that "films impact society, not the other way around. We are not endorsing anything as performers." Well, Vanga is undoubtedly. Public leaders' intellectual bankruptcy and corruption, together with the chauvinistic material's inevitable box office success, are symptoms of a darker truth of our times: ultra-right, regressive beliefs are becoming more and more popular worldwide, but notably in India.

The Swastika's usage in the movie has led to conjectures about Nazism, which Ranvijay laboriously dispels in the movie by pointing out that our Swastika is upright and not skewed as the Nazis' is. But when Ranvijay offers a fascist speech in front of the Swastika and raises his hand in a motion that unmistakably resembles the Nazi salute, I observed an intriguing detail. I discovered after watching Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds that he makes a unique gesture solely employed by the Germans at one point in his speech when he points to "three" with his thumb and first two fingers. It seems doubtful that this politically charged gesture, performed at a crucial moment, was an accident. The film's neo-Nazi affiliation is evident in its promotion of sexism and chauvinism as the "natural" order of things, despite its best efforts to conceal it. As an Indian, I feel embarrassed of Animal's box office success.

Sankar Dhee