Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
They said songs are a must, so be it. They handpicked heroes and heroines and defined what Indian beauty was. They ensured dynastic continuity by continually launching doyens' offspring's careers. More often than not, the juniors tanked at the box office. Nevertheless, actors with real talents lost out due to a lack of patronage. The paymasters, aka mafia, chose who would be the main star and who played second fiddle. Preferential treatment was the order of the day for heroines.
OTT platforms became a shot in the arm for second-rank filmmakers and actors not under the umbrella of the mafia. Movie themes became varied and more thought-provoking to accommodate Indians, who were clearly becoming more erudite and exposed to world affairs.
Watching 'Animal' reminded me of the Bollywood doyens who are still stuck in their own ways. Though outwardly Bollywood seems to promote literacy, women empowerment and liberty, they feel it is perfectly alright to shove thrash down the throats of those who still live smitten by the glitz and razzmatazz of the nostalgia of the yesteryears, when indeed the silver screen was in its golden era.
Being contradictory is an understatement. As India evolves to become the soon-to-be third biggest economy in the world, Bollywood stereotypes India as a basket base where law and order are non-existent. Ladies have improved their educational and economic standards over the years. Yet the filmmakers feel it is okay for a female character to lick the protagonist's boot to prove her love. Can anyone justify having an affair by quoting that that was the only way to save his father from assassins?
The main message I got from the movie is that everyone needs to be an alpha male and pick their mate. If they lack the prowess of alpha, they can be a poet or musician, tell sweet lies, and pin down their mates anyway! That was the law of the jungle, but since humans are animals but left their cavemen lifestyles long ago, the rule still stands.
The filmmakers thought if 'Kill Bill' and 'Pulp Fiction', with all the senseless killing and gore, could do well, why not 'Animal'? The things they forgot are, firstly, they are not quite Quentin Tarantino. Secondly, the audience came to watch a mainstream Indian movie, which is generally family-friendly, not a fringe ‘artsy’ restricted offering. The fact that this film still sizzled at the box office baffles me.
The filmmakers thought if 'Kill Bill' and 'Pulp Fiction', with all the senseless killing and gore, could do well, why not 'Animal'? The things they forgot are, firstly, they are not quite Quentin Tarantino. Secondly, the audience came to watch a mainstream Indian movie, which is generally family-friendly, not a fringe ‘artsy’ restricted offering. The fact that this film still sizzled at the box office baffles me.
