MapsofIndia.com/MyIndia.in Rating: 2.5/5
Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Plot
The film revolves around Ranvijay Singh, played by Ranbir Kapoor, a violent man known as “Balbir Singh Ka Beta” for almost half of the film. The story starts with a young Ranvijay who is deeply devoted to his father, Balbir Singh, the powerful industrialist of Swastik Enterprises, whom Anil Kapoor plays. However, Balbir, consumed by work, has little time for his son. This lack of attention becomes a defining factor in Ranvijay’s life.
During his school days, Ranvijay’s anger manifests in a violent outburst against his elder sister’s college mates, revealing a darkness within him. Alarmed, Balbir views his son as a potential criminal and sends him away to boarding school. Despite the hope of change, Ranvijay’s return to “Balbir Home” is marred by conflict. He clashes with his brother-in-law, deemed more capable by Balbir to handle the family business. When Ranvijay expresses his disapproval, Balbir slaps him and asks our protagonist to leave. Before departing, Ranvijay marries his childhood crush, Geetanjali, played by after breaking her engagement.
Years pass, and Ranvijay receives news that his estranged father, Balbir Singh, has been shot. He rushes back home, finding Balbir alive but shaken. Fueled by anger and a thirst for justice, Ranvijay takes charge. He vows to find those responsible and unleash a brutal retribution on live television. With a steely resolve and a heart burning with resentment, Ranvijay embarks on a path of violence, blood, and gore, with many intimate scenes in between. Later in the film, it is also revealed that Abrar Haque, played by Bobby Deol, is one of the men involved. Abrar is a force of nature, a man known for ruthlessness and unwavering brutality.
Performances
The narrative in Animal may stumble at times, but the performances by the cast are undeniably strong. Ranbir Kapoor delivers a tour-de-force performance as a violent, brutal character, capturing his toxicity and twisted sense of righteousness. He leaves you torn between hatred and admiration for his character.
Despite limited screen time, Anil Kapoor carries the film with his powerful presence. However, he was vastly underutilised. Rashmika Mandanna delivers a commendable performance despite a poorly written character. Unfortunately, despite the hype surrounding his role, Bobby Deol fails to make a significant impact due to limited screen time and a poorly developed character. He remains an underutilized element of the film.
Analysis
Animal is a film that revels in its absurdity. It’s a three-hour-long rollercoaster ride of gore, illogical plot points, and gratuitous violence. The narrative sometimes lacks coherence, focusing instead on delivering action sequences and intimate scenes that feel unnecessary and exploitative.
The characters themselves are poorly developed, including Ranbir’s protagonist. His motivations are unclear, and his transformation from wronged son to brutal avenger feels unearned. The supporting cast, including the heavily hyped Bobby Deol, suffers from similar flaws due to shallow characterization and limited screen time. Despite its many shortcomings, “Animal” does boast an impressive music score. The high-energy music effectively pumps up the audience, particularly during key scenes. However, the film’s reliance on multiple versions of the same song, “Papa Meri Jaan,” becomes tedious and repetitive.
Verdict
Animal is an excessively hyped action film, catering to its audience with a blend of toxicity, gore, and glimpses of Ranbir Kapoor’s naked body. While the plot offers nothing new or groundbreaking, the film’s biggest drawback is its length. Three hours is simply too long for a movie with such a thin narrative and shallow character development. Ultimately, Animal is a film that prioritizes spectacle over substance. While the action sequences and music may offer momentary thrills, the film fails to deliver a compelling story or memorable characters. This leaves the audience with a sense of disappointment and wondering what could have been.
