Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s new movie ‘Animal’ might remind you of a follow-up to ‘Kabir Singh,’ but it’s a different tale. Ranbir Kapoor plays Ranvijay Singh Balbir, whose father, Balbir Singh, is incredibly rich and powerful but too busy with his business across the globe. This absence deeply affects Ranvijay, turning him into an aggressive and chauvinistic character. If you’re from a family with a distant dad due to work or a single-parent household, this film might hit close to home.
While watching the intense scenes filled with blood before the movie’s break, it made me think. Is Balbir’s absence a bigger problem than his family ignoring Ranvijay’s struggles? Also, how long should our past affect our present and future actions? And why is it tough for Bollywood to show parent-child relationships realistically? ‘Animal’ may be promoted as a story about a father and son, but it’s more about a troubled man justifying his violent behavior due to his father’s issues. This kind of strained parent-child relationship isn’t new in movies.
In movies, we’ve seen different kinds of troublesome parents. There’s the proud father who demands strict obedience from their children, often opposing their life choices or career paths. Then there are those parents passing on a legacy of revenge, making their kids take up revenge as a responsibility. Some parents are too soft on their kids until they get what they want, as we’ve seen in certain films.
However, movies have improved over time. Some films, like ‘3 Idiots,’ ‘Taare Zameen Par,’ and ‘Dear Zindagi,’ talk about healing from past family issues. They show parents owning up to their mistakes and children expressing their feelings openly instead of hiding them.
There’s a meaningful quote I recently read: ‘Real strength is healing yourself without becoming like those who hurt you.’ Unfortunately, ‘Animal’ seems to take a step back in acknowledging mental health and violence against women. It tries to justify a man’s unacceptable behavior because he loves his family. This kind of portrayal could send the wrong message, suggesting it’s okay for men to blame their actions on those they love.
In essence, while some leaders try to normalize wrong actions, ‘Animal’ glorifies a masculinity that isn’t safe. Instead of exploring new ideas or including everyone, the film promotes harmful instincts and violent behavior. This could give men the wrong idea that blaming their actions on loved ones is acceptable.
