T-Series Films, Cine1 Studios and Bhadrakali Pictures’ Animal (A) is a violent story of a dysfunctional family. Ranvijay (Ranbir Kapoor) craves for his father’s love right from childhood. His father, Balbir (Anil Kapoor), is a business tycoon who doesn’t have time for his family comprising wife Jyoti (Charu Shankar), son Ranvijay and two daughters, Reet (Saloni Batra) and Roop (Anshul Chauhan). As if that were not bad enough, Balbir keeps taunting Ranvijay on some pretext or the other. Ranvijay is a rebel. But Ranvijay loves his father so dearly that he can’t hear anything against him. An attempt on Balbir’s life brings out the psychotic side of Ranvijay who can go to any extent to seek revenge. Who tried to kill Balbir and why? Does Ranvijay avenge the murder attempt on his father?
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has written a very unusual story about a father-son bond. The characterisations of Ranvijay and Balbir are so unique that that itself gives the audience a high. The screenplay, written by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Pranay Reddy Vanga, is engaging, interesting and entertaining. Yes, it is a very lengthy drama but since it keeps the viewers involved right from the word ‘go’, the length may not matter for a large section of the audience. Having said that, it must be added that the running time (of 3 hours and 23 minutes) would irritate a section of the audience. The drama gets confusing at times but the confusion is cleared as it progresses. Two ‘drawbacks’ of the screenplay are that it has too much of gruesome violence and a liberal amount of sexual jokes, talks and references. While these two may keep a part of the ladies and family audience away, these very two ‘drawbacks’ will be loved by the masses as well as the youth (both, boys and girls). Rarely has an A-list hero spoken sexual dialogues like Ranvijay (Ranbir Kapoor) has in this drama. That will give the youngsters such a kick that they will love him for it and may even repeat the film for this reason. The unusual and unpredictable reaction of Ranvijay to normal situations and his rebellious attitude will go down so well with the youngsters that this will draw the youth to the cinemas in hordes. These are also the entertaining parts of the drama. In other words, the viewers will take to Ranvijay’s character like fish to water. This is the film’s major plus point. Saurabh Gupta’s dialogues are excellent and provide a lot of humour and light moments. Of course, the intense dialogues are weighty.
Ranbir Kapoor is extraordinary in the role of Ranvijay. He essays the difficult role with such ease that it is impossible to imagine any other actor in it. It is easily one of Ranbir Kapoor’s best performances to date and one which can fetch him plenty of awards. Rashmika Mandana is quite good as Gitanjali. She gets two scenes (both of breakdown — one in the hospital, and the other when Ranvijay confesses in front of her) in which she gets scope to perform and she does full justice to them. Otherwise, she gets little to do. Her dialogue delivery needs improvement because the dialogues are not clear (as she doesn’t open her mouth fully). Anil Kapoor plays Balbir like a seasoned actor should. He is a delight to watch! Bobby Deol makes an extraordinary mark in a brief role as Abrar Haque. Although he comes on the scene very late in the drama, he owns the screen in his first scene. He breathes fire in the action scene. Tripti Dimri makes a fantastic contribution as Zoya. Shakti Kapoor makes his presence felt in the role of Ranvijay’s Mishra uncle. Upendra Limaye gives a wonderful account of himself in a special appearance as Freddy. His acting will win applause in centres of Maharashtra because of his fan following in the state as he is a big name in Marathi cinema. Siddhant Karnick is lovely as Varun. Prem Chopra is nice as Bade Daarji. Suresh Oberoi lends decent support as Dadaji. Bablu Prithviraj leaves his mark as Asrar Haque. Saurabh Sachdeva shines as Abid Haque. Ahmed Ibn Umar is cute as young Ranvijay. Charu Shankar has her moments as Ranvijay’s mother, Jyoti. Saloni Batra is pretty effective as Ranvijay’s sister, Reet. Anshul Chauhan lends nice support as Ranvijay’s sister, Roop. Srinath Maganti is good as Gitanjali’s brother, Kartik. Davy Grewal (as Sangram), Gagan Deep Singh (as Sunny), Amanjot Singh (as Guru), Vikram Bakshi (as Jitta), Vivek Sharma (as Paali), Manjot Singh (as Royal), Avdeep Sidhu (as Manjot), Kamaljeet Rana (as Balli), K.P. Singh (as Vikram), Butta Badbar (as Butta) and Gursewak Singh Mander (as K.P.) provide superb support. Indira Krishnan (as Gitanjali’s mother), Mathew Varghese (as Gitanjali’s father), Ashrita Vemuganti (as Gitanjali’s aunt), Kunal Thakur (as Gitanjali’s fiancé), Kalyan Vittapu (as Varun’s brother), Avi Rakheja (as Roop’s husband), Mansi Takshak (as Abrar’s bride), Shafina Patel and Shabana Haroon (as Abrar’s earlier wives), Taru Devani (as Abrar’s grandmother), Madhu Raja (as Beeji), Neeven Vaid (as young Reet), Eva Chibber (as young Roop), Sunny Gill, Arvinder Bhatti, Raj Hundal, Tajinder Kaur, Anju Kapoor, Dimple Chhabra (all six as Ranvijay’s paternal uncles and aunts), Archana Rao, Manpreet Maan, Jyoti Arora (all three as Ranvijay’s sisters-in-law in the village), Madhuri Bhatia (as senior surgeon in hospital), Veenah Nair (as senior surgeon at Balbir’s house), Mrinmayee Godbole (as psychologist), Ajay Madhok (as neurologist), I.P. Sawhney (as cardiologist) and the others lend very fine support.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s direction is first rate. He has made a film with all the conviction at his command. Even the excessive and gruesome violence and the length of the film are not aberrations but well thought-out options he has chosen. Music is appealing. All the songs — Hua main (music Jam8; lyrics Manoj Muntashir Shukla), Satranga (Shreyas Puranik; Siddharth-Garima), Papa meri jaan (Harshavardhan Rameshwar; Raj Shekhar), Arjan vailly (Manan Bhardwaj; Bhupinder Babbal), Pehle bhi main (Vishal Mishra; Raj Shekhar), Kashmir (Manan Bhardwaj; Manan Bhardwaj), Saari duniya jalaa denge (Jaani; Jaani), School theme song (Harshavardhan Rameshwar), Haiwaan (Ashim Kemson; Ashim Kemson), Dolby walya (Ajay-Atul; Ajay-Atul), Bhavein jane (Bhupinder Babbal; Bhupinder Babbal) and Main tera hoon (Gurinder Seagal; Gurinder Seagal) are all melodious. Of course, Satranga, Saari duniya jalaa denge and Dolby walya are the best numbers. Harshavardhan Rameshwar’s background music is outstanding and greatly heightens the impact of the scenes. Supreme Sundar, Sunil Rodrigues and Tiger Rudge’s action and stunt scenes are par excellence. Yes, they are often crude and gruesome, which may not be palatable to the ladies and family audience but the action and stunts will be loved by the masses and youngsters. Amit Roy’s cinematography is fantastic. Suresh Selvarajan’s production designing and Sagar Mali and Sebastian Bettosini’s art direction are of a high order. Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s editing is super-sharp. In spite of a running time of 203 minutes, the film hardly has a dull moment. A word here about the sound: in several scenes, the dialogues are not very clearly audible, and the audience have to, therefore, strain their ears to understand them. Such a defect in a film of this canvas is a red mark in the film’s report card.
On the whole, Animal is a surefire super-hit. It will be unstoppable at the box-office on the strength of patronage of the masses and the youth. Ladies and family audience will be divided in their opinion, of course.
Released on 1-12-’23 at Inox (daily 15 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: extraordinary. Opening: bumper. …….Also released all over. Opening was earth-shattering everywhere.