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Animal: Riddhima Kapoor Breaks Silence on the Violent Theme of Ranbir Kapoor’s Film: ‘There’s a Section of Audience Who…

Aastha Tyagi2 years ago2 years ago2107 mins

Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor’s latest blockbuster Animal has been in the news for the controversy it has created, which has caught the attention of his sister, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Animal would eventually go on to be one of the top-grossing films of 2023 for Bollywood. However, Animal has been flayed for its extreme violence as well as misogyny. Recently, Riddhima, best-known for Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, expressed her views on these issues-she even came forward with her own feeling of the taste in the audience and the changing face of movies in Bollywood. ### Riddhima on Audience Taste

There, Aaj Tak show had brought co-stars Shalini Passi and Kalyani Saha with Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. In the session “Delhi Wives Ki Fab Lives,” an attendee said Animal is like other social cinema that Raj Kapoor, Riddhima’s granddad, made long ago. The viewer drew attention to how different the stories are while asking whether violence in cinema is finding space in today’s film.

The filmmaker retaliated and pointed out shift in audience choice as one of the most cogent reasons why the content of Bollywood changes. “There is a segment of the audience who likes watching these movies like Animal and Pushpa, she said, adding, “If my grandfather were alive today, he would have continued making such spectacular movies. But today, this is what the audience wants to see.

Ranbir Kapoor Weighs In

Even with this, the same criticism surrounding Animal has not spared Sanju too, as the latter is also directed by himself. At the International Film Festival of India in Goa, Ranbir spoke at length about a question put before him by a fan regarding glorification of violence in films like Animal and Sanju.

I completely agree with you, says Ranbir Jain, voicing the principle of socially responsible filmmaking. But the actor needs to do different kinds of roles, he added. “As an actor, it’s important to dabble in different genres and portray morally grey characters. But what you’re saying is absolutely correct. We must be more responsible about the kind of films we make.”.

It is Ranbir’s thoughtful response that strikes a balance between artistic freedom and impact on society, leading to further debate over the changing role of cinema in shaping social awareness.

Argument over Animal

With animals, the tense drama unfurls strained family relationships, and darker themes like revenge, loyalty, and redemption, critics complained that too much violence sullied the emotionally rich and sensational storyline for which Ranbir Kapoor fans applauded his intense involvement. Allegations of misogyny also contributed to fuelling the controversy for so many felt that the female characters had been placed in the background for the focus on male aggression as portrayed in the film.

This notwithstanding, Animal was the kind of cashmere-spewing behemoth that proved one thing beyond everything else: blockbuster dramas high-octane continue to be an attraction for an important chunk of Bollywood audiences.

Whereas the legacy of Raj Kapoor versus the filmmaking fraternity today has changed, what has not is the statement the film speaks about with regards to such concerns in the society. While Raj Kapoor’s Awara and Shree 420 spoke of the relevant concerns in society, today’s Bollywood is more absorbed in serving high-octane entertainers targeted according to shifting audience preferences.

Statements of Riddhima Kapoor Sahni have reflected this change. Though she took the protest in her stride, she strongly defended the viewer’s choice, hinting that cinema too is changing with the order of society.

Both Riddhima and Ranbir Kapoor were thought-provoking regarding the debate by striking a balance between respect for cinematic values and realism of expectations from contemporary audiences. Their comments are an exemplar of the challenge that the Bollywood world at large confronts: to make films entertaining enough but also culturally and morally responsible.

As Animal leads the charge in each wave, it begins to leave questions of significance regarding the future and how storytelling influences the values of society.

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