Overview
The Animal film is an action drama that was first released in the Hindi language on December 1, 2023. It is directed, edited, and co-written by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and is centered on father and son relationships, trauma, emotional neglect, and violence. It features an unusually high 201 minutes long runtime, making the film one of the longest in Indian cinema, and includes intense action scenes alongside emotional character development.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as the lead character, Ranvijay. “Vijay” Singh, who portrays the son of Balbir, an emotionally detached and domineering industrialist. Vijay’s desire for Balbir’s affection and approval is met by a cold and authoritarian father, creating a relationship gap that only increases over the years. The lack of emotional connection and abuse pushes Vijay toward a dark, violent path ultimately turning him into a dangerous individual.
After an attempted assassination on his father, Vijay embarks on a journey to uncover the masterminds behind the attack and safeguard the family’s legacy. He battles external foes and confronts his own personal battles. Past traumas, present betrayals, and a family legacy ignite a metamorphosis within Vijay, turning him into a man loathed by his enemies and feared by those who once stood by his side. The film intertwines mindblowing action and emotionally charged psychological subplots, often blurring the line between protector and monster.
Cast & Crew
Director / Writer / Editor: Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the man behind Kabir Singh and Arjun Reddy, brings his signature blend of emotional intensity to the film Animal. This film further cements his style—character-driven stories drenched in stylized violence and toxic emotional dynamics.
Cinematography: The visuals of Animal by Amit Roy are rich, dynamic, and operatic. The film was shot in diverse locations, like the mountains of Manali, urban settings in Mumbai, the regal Pataudi Palace, and even internationally in Scotland and England.
Music & Score: The film features a soundtrack by Pritam, JAM8, Vishal Mishra, and Manan Bhardwaj, accompanied by Harshavardhan Rameshwar’s background music. The film’s songs, which are emotional, aggressive, and romantic, help the audience understand the protagonist’s internal journey.
Main Cast
Ranbir Kapoor as Ranvijay “Vijay” Singh – Heir to a fortune, Vijay is deeply emotionally wounded, and he evolves into a deadly protector.
Anil Kapoor as Balbir Singh – Vijay’s father and a emotionally absent businessman, Balbir shapes much of the story’s conflict.
Rashmika Mandanna as Geetanjali – A wife to Vijay, as well as a moral and emotional anchor. Geetanjali embodies love and the life he could have led.
Triptii Dimri as Zoya – A psychological complex of Vijay, Zoya is a tied to him, and a layered and mysterious character.
Bobby Deol as Abrar Haque – The film’s violent and enigmatic antagonist, Abrar Haque adds to the film’s depiction of chaos.
Others include Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra, and Suresh Oberoi, who bring the film’s emotional and cultural layers to life.
Production & Release
Filming for Animal started in April 2022 and stretched over a year. The production design is a blend of emotional close-ups and massive action set pieces. The film’s locations were a blend of Vijay’s and Animal’s character—pristine yet dangerous, and beautiful yet deadly.
It was initially scheduled for a release in August 2023, but was pushed due to extensive post-production work to December 1, 2023. The film was released in several languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and of course Hindi. It was released in IMAX for a larger than life experience.
On January 26, 2024, it started streaming on Netflix, first with the Hindi theatrical cut, and later with an English dubbed version.
Box Office Performance
Animal proved to be a box office success on release. It opened to a massive day one and over the course of a few weeks, garnered one of the highest day one collections for a Hindi film. Following this, it achieved:
Third highest grossing Indian film of 2023.
Fourth best Hindi movie in history by box office revenue.
A record as the highest grossing A-rated (adult certificate) Indian film.
Remarkable commercial success of Ranbir Kapoor’s career.
The movie grossed over ₹900 crores worldwide even though it was restricted to an adult audience. This was an achievement especially because there was restricted demand due to the runtime and age rating.
Critical Reception
The response to Animal was critically divisive. People who loved the movie thought it was emotionally heavy and boldly narrated while the ones who hated it thought it was poorly made and filled with excessive violence.
Praise included:
Performances and direction praise.
Ranbir Kapoor’s performance was praised to him describing it to be his most intense and transformative role to date.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s direction added Visual and Narrative depth.
Emotional focus enhancing scores and music certain soundtracks and the background score.
Action sequence and film cinematography.
Criticism focused on:
The underline massacre and violence.
The feeble and lackluster women femal characters portrayal in regards to the main man character.
The excessive portrayal of violence and blood.
A lengthy runtime of 3 hours which was both mentally and emotionally draining for average thinkers.
In spite of mixing film topics that do not blend well and poorly constructing a film , the movie was nominated for 19 Filmfare Awards and winning 6 including Best Actor (Ranbir Kapoor), Best Music Director, and Best Sound Design. It also received some recognition in the National Film Awards for background score and sound design
Themes & Analysis
Understanding The Father-Son Dynamics
At its heart, Animal is a story of a son seeking validation, love, and attention from his father who is emotionally unavailable. The father’s disapproval manifests itself as a psychological wound, which turns Vijay into a highly conflicted man, a man who is capable of overwhelming love, but is also consumed with immense rage.
Toxic Masculinity
Like many movies from this and many prior eras, this one too highlights the impact of a man’s the father’s expectations on his son, which are often deeply rooted in toxic obligation. Vijay’s path toward seeking approval from his father matures into violently destructive obsession, which forces him into cycles of emotional claustrophobia. The film attempts to explore this concept and its repercussions.
Love and Obsession
Vijay’s relationships provide an insight into his psyche, especially the one with Geetanjali. A glimpse of his humanity now begins to emerge. But this love is also possessive and self-destructive, epitomizing the concept of love as obsession. The film tries to delve into the complexities of one’s ability to love and be loved, especially in the context of trauma.
Viewing Violence as an Identity
Vijay. From a cinematic perspective, the film immerses its audience in a world rife with stylized omnipresent violence. Through his lens, violence is more than mere action. For the purpose of self-defending, avenging, and asserting, it is the only form of expression that he is accustomed to.
Final Thoughts
Animal goes beyond simply being a film—it’s a deeply polarizing cinematic piece that overwhelms and evokes strong emotions. Some might call it a psychological action-drama masterpiece, while others may consider it a troubling blend of masculinity gone wrong. Regardless, it will always stir controversy.
Vijay, a character played by Ranbir Kapoor, elicits both sympathy and fear; a soul embraced by love yet ensnared in destruction. Vanga, the director, unapologetically confronts the audience by challenging them and daring them to feel.
For all the film’s flaws, or precisely because of them, it has undeniably secured a position in Indian cinema of the 21st century. Like a timeless piece of art, the film will spark heated discussions and will be embraced and attacked in equal measure.
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