Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore recently weighed on the controversial success of Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
In a candid discussion with Kapil Sibal on his YouTube channel Dil Se Kapil Sibal, Tagore acknowledged the film’s divisive nature, acknowledging its portrayal of violence and misogyny. “There was a film called Animal,” she began, prompting Sibal to interject with criticism, calling it “terrible” due to its intense themes.
However, Tagore urged a deeper reflection on its popularity, noting, “Beyond violence, there was misogyny. But there were a lot of women in the audience who said I want somebody to love me like that. Any film that runs a lot, you cannot rubbish it. You have to engage with it, try and understand it that what exactly is happening here.”
Despite facing critique from figures like Javed Akhtar and others, Animal earned a staggering Rs 900 crore globally, underlining its undeniable commercial success. Tagore contrasted this with smaller budget successes like Laapataa Ladies, emphasizing the financial dynamics of Bollywood. “A film with the right budget can succeed,” she pointed out, “like Laapataa Ladies. It did well even theatrically as it was within the budget.”
Ranbir Kapoor himself acknowledged the film’s controversial elements amidst its acclaim, stating, “I want to thank all of you for being here today to celebrate Animal. It is a film that a section of people had an issue with but I feel the kind of love, success and the numbers (it has received) proves that nothing goes beyond the love for a movie. Nothing goes beyond movies,” as reported by PTI.
In essence, Tagore’s perspective highlights the complex interplay between artistic portrayal, audience reception, and commercial viability in contemporary cinema, urging a nuanced approach to understanding cultural phenomena like Animal.