In the cinematic landscape of 2023, “Animal,” featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead and helmed by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, emerged as a major success, raking in an impressive Rs 900 crore worldwide. Despite its significant financial achievements, the film faced substantial criticism for what some perceived as the undue “glorification” of violence and sexism.
While the movie received favorable reviews from some quarters, a substantial number of viewers expressed discontent with Vanga’s treatment of themes such as toxic masculinity and feminism. Joining the ranks of critics is Javed Akhtar, a seasoned screenwriter, lyricist, and poet, whose collaborative efforts with Salim Khan spawned several blockbuster hits in Indian cinema. Together, they played a pivotal role in popularizing the iconic “Angry Young Man” archetype in Bollywood, characterized by the portrayal of robust male protagonists. Akhtar’s disapproval adds a notable voice to the ongoing discourse surrounding the film’s controversial themes and cinematic choices.
Javed Akhtar, a renowned Indian poet, lyricist, and scriptwriter, shared his thoughts on the current state of cinema and the societal influences shaping it. According to him, the portrayal of heroes in films should be crafted with a conscious understanding of moral values and what is deemed right. He pointed out that contemporary writers face increased confusion, mirroring the societal confusion prevalent today.
In the past, there was a simplistic narrative where the poor were portrayed as good and the rich as bad. However, Akhtar suggests that the prevailing societal mindset has shifted, evident in the popular fascination with wealth, as exemplified by the popularity of shows like “Kaun Banega Crorepati?” This shift makes it challenging to depict the rich as antagonists in films, as people aspire to be affluent themselves.
He expressed concern about the impact of certain scenes in movies that may convey harmful messages. Akhtar cited a specific instance from the film “Animal,” where a man asks a woman to lick his shoe, emphasizing the danger when such scenes become popular and contribute to the success of a film. He highlighted the responsibility of audiences in shaping the direction of cinema, urging them to be discerning consumers who reject content that goes against societal values.
Javed Akhtar Lashes Out At The Portrayal Of Tripti Dimrii Licking Ranbir Kapoor‘s Shoes In Animal
Akhtar acknowledged that there are still filmmakers producing quality content, but he emphasized the crucial role of audiences in determining the fate of cinema. Ultimately, he stressed that the choices made by viewers will influence the type of films that thrive in the industry.
“The image of a hero should be created with an awareness of what is right and how it should be. Today’s writers need to think, because confusion has increased among them. The reason for this is that society is in confusion. Society does not decide what is right and what is wrong, but it is reflected in cinema. There was a time when the poor were good and the rich were bad. But today, we only have one thought in our head, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ So we can’t make the rich look bad now since we ourselves want to be rich,” he observed, as reported by Loksatta.
“If there’s a film in which a man asks a woman to lick his shoe or if a man says it’s okay to slap a woman… and the film is a super hit, that’s dangerous,” he said, referring to the scene between Ranbir and Triptii Dimri’s characters in Animal.
“Nowadays, I feel that more responsibility is on the audiences than filmmakers. The audiences have to decide what movies they like and what they don’t like. It is entirely up to the audiences to decide what to reject. The ball is currently in the audiences’ court. Even today, there are as many filmmakers making good movies, but only a few. The fate of cinema depends on how long you stand with them,” Akhtar added.