Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, renowned for his critically acclaimed films such as ‘Omkara’ and ‘Haider,’ has shared his thoughts on the recently released ‘Animal,’ directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Bhardwaj acknowledged watching the film but expressed difficulty in forming a definitive opinion.
In an interview with Firstpost, Bhardwaj admitted, ‘I have still not made up my mind what to feel about that film, because I enjoyed it, and at the same time I hated it.’ Despite praising the performances, particularly that of Ranbir Kapoor, Bhardwaj questioned the film’s appeal to audiences. He noted, ‘I think the recent hit film Animal is all what you are saying is all there. And we have a typical hero, too. That’s one of the biggest hits of all time. People still watch and still want that kind of movie. It’s a big surprise that there is a huge audience for that kind of film as well.’
The film ‘Animal’ has elicited a range of reactions from critics and audiences alike. Actor-lyricist Swanand Kirkire criticized the film for its depiction of sensitive themes such as sexual abuse, hyper-toxic masculinity, and excessive violence. He expressed his concern that ‘Animal’ may lead Indian cinema in a ‘dangerous and scary’ direction.
In contrast, filmmaker Karan Johar offered a more positive assessment of ‘Animal.’ He opined, ‘Personally, truly honestly, I saw it as a character film based on a character who was deeply dysfunctional, inherently violent, who had many emotional issues – and I loved the treatment.’
‘Animal,’ which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna, has emerged as a commercial success upon its theatrical release and is currently streaming on Netflix.
