'Animal', produced by T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures, hit the screens today on a multi-lingual scale. Here is our review of the latest box-office release.
Story:
Vijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) grows up as a lonesome child whose biggest worry in his life is that his billionaire father Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor) doesn't spend enough time with him. He marries an ex-flame Geetanjali Singh (Rashmika Mandanna) against his dad's wishes. The wedding results in an emotional and physical gap between him and his father, who now asks him to leave the home. The newlywed couple move to the US. But Vijay Singh's exile from India and his family mansion comes to an end when Balbir is shot at by unknown assailants. As the business empire run by the Singh family threatens to fall apart, Vijay announces his readiness to go to any extent to save his father and the crumbling empire. In this process, he takes to bestial violence.
Performances:
This one is a purely performance-driven film, much like director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's previous films 'Ajun Reddy' and 'Kabir Singh'. There is not a single scene where you can imagine any actor other than Ranbir Kapoor in the role of a violent, alpha, psychotic male who revels in flaunting his attitude. In one scene, he even runs amok naked on the premises of his father's mansion. Ranbir and Anil Kapoor look made for each other despite being semi-estranged family members.
Rashmika's monologue in the second half is a turn-off. Her performance is mid. The actress' most significant Bollywood debut doesn't give her unmixed highs.
Bobby Deol's character comes underwritten. He is the film's main villain who works in the shadows. He resorts to domestic abuse and possesses primal instincts, he should have got at least two more scenes (and Rashmika, two fewer scenes).
Technical Departments:
Harshwardhan Rameshwar's background score is above average. It is not excellent because we have already seen his work in 'Arjun Reddy'. The song played in the background during the climactic hand-to-hand combat is easily one of the best Hindi film songs of the decade. The Manan Bhardwaj-composed 'Arjan Vailly' is iconic. It's not an original tune (only the lyrics are), though. The director makes the best use of the famed Punjabi song.
Merits:
1. The storyline.
2. The epilogue.
3. The top-tier performance by Ranbir Kapoor.
4. The unconventional treatment of the son's maddening love for his father.
5. The unapologetic portrayal of violence.
6. The interval fight.
Demerits:
1. Showing a powerful business family as defenseless is downright silly. Couldn't the Singh family have been a business family caught in the last stages of permanent decline? The family doesn't look vulnerable. As a result, the impact of Vijay's bestial actions is not full-blown.
2. The run time is 203 minutes. The second half is unending.
3. The husband-wife scenes in the second half are somewhat emotionally forced.
Vox Verdict:
'Animal' is fated to be the year's most polarizing Bollywood film. Expect the intelligentsia to dissect the mind of the modern Indian male if this film mints even Rs 200 Cr at the box office. Watch it with your spouse, not with your parents and kids.
Rating: 2.75/5
