What Does the Film Entail?

Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) deeply admires his incredibly busy industrialist father, yet he has lacked his father’s attention since childhood. The crux of the movie ‘Animal’ revolves around the son rescuing his father from an attack, leading the father to realize the depth of his absence.

Acting

Ranbir Kapoor adeptly portrays a son devoted to his father, displaying multifaceted nuances in his character with remarkable finesse. Throughout the film, his performance remains strong, showcasing versatility within the storyline. While likely to be memorable in his career, it may not be the defining role shaping his trajectory entirely.

Rashmika Mandanna embodies Geethanjali’s character with groundedness, delivering what’s required without going overboard. Despite being in a male-dominated film devoid of a romantic storyline, her on-screen presence is appealing and lacks any notable shortcomings.

Review

Directed by Sandeep Vanga, ‘Animal’ marks a departure from his previous works like ‘Arjun Reddy’ and its Hindi rendition ‘Kabir Singh,’ focusing on the father-son dynamic this time.

The film commences in black and white, with Ranbir narrating a short tale that immediately captivates attention, setting the film’s tone.

Following sequences are well-executed; a brief flashback from childhood and an emotionally resonant father-son song establish a strong narrative foundation. Although the introduction of Rashmika and its build-up feels familiar, the family conflicts and the protagonist’s intensity engage the audience.

While the drama occasionally seems a prelude to forthcoming action sequences, it stands out due to its execution and writing. The extensive and well-crafted interval action scene, coupled with an invigorating background score, compensates for any concerns about its duration, resulting in a captivating first half.

The second half commences with a medical counseling scene that, although engaging, feels forced in conversations about sex for the sake of being bold, which disrupts the natural flow. The abrupt shift between a discussion about a heart condition and sexual activity feels unnatural.

The primary issue with ‘Animal’ is that the core revenge plot concludes at the interval, leading to a stretched-out story in the second half. The mid-film introduction of Bobby Deol, only to bring closure in the climax, exposes weaknesses in the latter part.

Even crucial scenes where Ranbir discloses his actions regarding her sister’s husband lack emotional impact.

The film is bogged down by unnecessary segments, such as showcasing Ranbir with a heavier physique, followed by his transformation to a fit body and a scene featuring him walking naked. These attempts at boldness for the sake of it compromise the essence of the main story.

Tripti Dimri’s character design exemplifies how some characters have been half-heartedly developed and seem farcical. It’s surprising how a director like Sandeep Vanga settled for these artificial characters. Once again, he presents a bold scene involving Ranbir and Tripti, seemingly a desperate attempt to make a mark.

Even during scenes where the husband and wife vehemently argue after Rashmika discovers Ranbir had slept with another girl, the entire sequence tests the audience’s patience. Similarly, when Rashmika criticizes Ranbir’s father during their clash, the emotional impact is lost, as the film overly focuses on the hero’s violent actions.

By the film’s conclusion, one might genuinely question whether Ranbir’s feelings towards his father reflect love or madness, shaped by the director’s portrayal of his character.

However, the closing scene showcased in the trailer, where Ranbir implores his father to act as a son, leaves a significant and powerful impression.

Overall, ‘Animal’ offers an engaging and refreshing first half with intense action sequences during the interval. However, the second half loses its track, going overboard and failing to regain momentum. Those familiar with the director’s style from ‘Arjun Reddy’ may find it worth a watch, but it’s wise to keep expectations considerably low this time.

Other Performances

‘Animal’ features several popular and talented Bollywood supporting actors who seamlessly blend into the central theme. Nevertheless, Anil Kapoor predominantly shines, either through his screen presence or performance. Bobby Deol, portraying a villain introduced in the latter half, fails to leave a substantial impact beyond a shirtless climax fight.

Tripti Dimri’s role feels underdeveloped and lacks conviction. While she appears well on-screen, the character seems superficially created without depth. Babloo Prithi’s appearances seem restricted and abruptly cut in the final version. Meanwhile, other cast members like Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra, and the rest fulfill their roles adequately.

Music and Technical Aspects?

‘Animal’ boasts music composed by various directors. Despite the decent audio quality of the non-traditional commercial album, the on-screen presentation of the songs lacks visual appeal, contributing to the film’s length.

Harshavardhan Rameshwar’s background score is exceptional in certain sequences, enhancing the scenes significantly. Importantly, the sound feels innovative.

Amit Roy’s cinematography is commendable, aligning well with contemporary trends and offering a fresh visual perspective. However, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s editing leads to several scenes that test the audience’s patience, contributing to the film’s extended duration. The production values from T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures are excellent.

High Points?

Central emotional core

Ranbir’s performance

Interval action sequence

Casting and background music

Shortcomings?

Film length

Second-half decline

Underdeveloped character roles

Excessive and purposeless bold scenes