In a series of Insta Stories, Pakistani broadcaster Anoushey Ashraf discussed the controversial Ranbir Kapoor flick Animal. Ashraf, known for her candor, examined the film’s divisive themes.
“He’s [Ranbir’s] played the neurotic human he’s supposed to be to perfection,” Ashraf said of Kapoor’s complex performance. She was concerned about the film praising the character’s “sickness.” Ashraf wisely noted that, while no one should like Ranbir’s persona, his performance is great.
I didn’t like glorifying his illness. If you’re an intelligent observer (most aren’t), you’ll know such situations exist and are distorted. No one should appreciate Ranbir’s character in this movie, but I like how he played it.”
With its powerful themes of brutality, gore, and 3 hours and 20 minutes, the film has captivated audiences worldwide, except in Pakistan. Ashraf compared its aesthetics to Quentin Tarantino’s films in her review. “The film has tons of blood, violence, and gore, but everyone stayed glued to their seats. The violence was executed ‘aesthetically’ like Quentin Tarantino’s Punjabi-style gory films.
She added, “I personally maintain that Ranbir is a superior actor to all his contemporaries.”
Ashraf also warned her followers about the film’s sexual material and potential offense to conservatives. She encouraged audiences not to watch it with family members who might be upset by the film’s bold choices, repeating the idea that Indian cinema generally portrays sex and profanity more boldly than “our relatively modest Pakistani palettes.”
“So don’t watch with kids or parents who’d be offended by your odd life choices. Otherwise, enjoy popcorn!” According to Ashraf,.
Criticism and praise for animals have been heated. Anoushey Ashraf’s balanced analysis emphasizes Kapoor’s acting while criticizing the film’s problematic theme.
Criticism of ‘Animal’ or Reddy Vanga?
When Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Telugu film Arjun Reddy opened, people criticized Arjun (Vijay Deverakonda) for smacking his girlfriend Preethi (Shalini Pandey). Vanga maintained the toxic masculinity scenario in his Hindi rendition, Kabir Singh, causing outrage. Since Animal, the Kapoor starrer, is being criticized as an even more poisonous, provocative, gore, and problematic film, his resistance to criticism and adamance on portraying toxic males on screen seem to have endured. Currently, he seems to be taking criticism in stride and possibly even riding the high of the conversations his films have started.
The Guardian headline: “Ranbir Kapoor plays one of the vilest protagonists in cinema history.” Phuong Le gave it a one-star review, writing, “Kapoor plays the scion of a wealthy family whose violence is the result of a craving for love and validation, in a regressive Bollywood blockbuster.”
According to Indie-Wire’s Proma Khosla, “Men will literally make a 202-minute movie instead of going to therapy.” In an excerpt from the article, “Animal is not particularly bad, misguided, or offensive—though it is occasionally all of those things—but it is an overall baffling cinematic experience.” The movie has a jarring start and no clear end.”
The ‘Animal’ waves
Animal has surpassed $1 billion in two days at the box office. Despite mixed reviews, the film’s commercial success questions Indian audiences’ appetite for bold and controversial narratives. The Indian Express reported that the film made INR 1.298 billion in two days.
Along with Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Tripti Dimri play key roles.
