UNLEASHING THE ANIMAL INSTINCTS

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, takes audiences on a visceral journey into the depths of human instincts, portraying a son's unwavering loyalty and devotion to his father.

This intense drama delves into the darkest corners of relationships and tests the limits of familial bonds. Expectations were high for Vanga to surpass his previous work, "Arjun Reddy," known for its toxic masculinity.

"Animal" not only meets but exceeds those expectations by presenting a bloodier, baser narrative, unleashing the crudest animalistic instincts on screen with an A certificate.

The director boldly releases the untamed beasts within each character, creating an atmosphere of raw intensity that is captivating in the first half.

The film's first half is a rollercoaster of emotions, with an intriguing premise and a galloping storyline.

However, the initial rush of adrenaline gradually wanes in the second half, with a cooling down of intensity that makes it feel somewhat of a drag until the climax.

While the climax manages to revive the gripping atmosphere, the second half overall falls short of matching the relentless intensity of the first. In essence, "Animal" revolves around a son whose unparalleled loyalty to his father is put to the ultimate test.

As the narrative unfolds, a pivotal incident transforms the son, unleashing the real animal within him. The character's metamorphosis is akin to a Hollywood hero turning into a werewolf or Hulk, as he literally transforms into an untamed force.

So what is wrong with the second half ? The revenge of the son seems like almost over in the interval. The second half seems to have many forced scenes just for the sake of making the character look ‘cool’ or ‘bold’.

The underdeveloped character of Bobby Deol reveals the plot’s hollowness in the second half. Just to showcase Ranbir’s abilities, some unnecessary scenes are stuffed in, including the physical transformation one.

Apart from Ranbir, it is Anil Kapoor who makes an impact. Some of the other characters look like they were just cut and pasted like that of Tripti Dimri and Babloo Prithi.

While the songs are unique it is the background score which steals the show. While the cinematography is brilliant the editing is yawn inducing.

The two and a half rating reflects the overall strength of the film, acknowledging its achievements while recognizing a series of glorious blood baths as a toxic injection to the audience and the half-baked second half which reduces the overall impact.