Love, vengeance, and family – Bollywood’s holy trinity takes centre stage, but are “Bawaal” and “Animal” just empty vessels or provocative portraits of the human condition? Sukanya throws down the gauntlet, exclusively for Different Truths.

“Bawaal,” directed by Nitesh Tiwari, presents an engaging narrative revolving around Ajay Dixit, a self-absorbed history teacher in Lucknow, played by Varun Dhawan, and his intelligent but restricted wife Nisha, portrayed by Janhvi Kapoor.

Act 1: Introduction & Setting the Scene

The film sets the stage with Ajay’s struggle to maintain a facade of success, utilizing the philosophy of ‘fake it till you make it,’ while keeping Nisha at bay due to her epilepsy, fearing it might tarnish his image.

Act 2: Conflict and Character Dynamics

The film takes a turn when Ajay slaps a student, Atul Raghuvanshi, who is the son of powerful MLA Vishwas Raghuvanshi. This action threatens Ajay’s carefully created world. To escape repercussions, Ajay embarks on a journey across Europe, dragging Nisha along in the hope of resolving their marital issues. This journey becomes a pivotal point, challenging their perspectives on life, history, and interpersonal conflicts.

Act 3: Themes and Critique

While the film offers relatable characters, particularly the self-absorbed protagonist and those who orbit around him, it falters in its portrayal of Nisha’s character. Her extended portrayal as a doormat feels exaggerated and undermines her intelligence. However, the film excels in depicting individuals like Ajay, who believe the world revolves around them, and those who enable such behaviour. Despite these flaws, the movie manages to create relatable characters that resonate with real-life personas.

In terms of critical reception, the film’s mixed reviews reflect its polarising nature. While some praise its intriguing characters and underlying wisdom, others criticise its misguided execution and trivialisation of significant historical events, notably the Holocaust.

With a strong foundation in character dynamics and thought-provoking themes, “Bawaal” succeeds in presenting relatable characters, albeit with certain character portrayals that might have missed the mark.

***

Delving into the complexities of “Animal”, an Indian action drama, the film embarks on a journey entwined with love, vengeance, and familial discord.

While the film’s music and songs soared, showcasing a diverse range of emotions, there was a noticeable glitch during a Karwa Chauth scene where overlapping videos seemed redundant, diluting the impact and coherence of the moment.

Act 1: Introduction and Setup

“Animal” presents an intricate web of emotions, relationships, and conflicts within the Singh family, headed by business magnate Balbir Singh. Ranvijay “Vijay” Singh, Balbir’s son, is the central figure whose life we witness from his childhood adoration for his father to the estrangement that follows an incident at a young age. The plot navigates through love, lust, rage, violence, and familial tensions, culminating in an assassination attempt on Balbir’s life.

Act 2: Rising Tensions and Conflict

Vijay, now settled in the United States after marrying Geetanjali, returns to Delhi upon learning about his father’s shooting. The narrative picks up speed as Vijay delves into the roots of the attack, unravelling a complex web of family ties, betrayal, and vengeance. He confronts Varun, his brother-in-law, and sets off on a mission to avenge his father’s attempted murder, accompanied by his cousins from Punjab.

Act 3: Climax and Resolution

The tension escalates as Vijay encounters Varun’s involvement in the assassination attempt and seeks justice through intense confrontations and deadly encounters. A significant turning point arises when he discovers the true mastermind behind the attack, Abrar Haque, leading to a relentless pursuit across Scotland. The narrative reaches its pinnacle with a brutal showdown between Vijay and Abrar, ultimately leading to Vijay’s triumph and return to India.

Missing Key Element

While the film intricately weaves multiple themes and conflicts, one significant aspect that seems underplayed is the bond between Vijay and his brother. The love between the brothers could have served as a vital thread to strengthen the storyline. This unexplored connection might have added depth and resonance to the emotional core of the film.

Reflection and Setup for Sequel

The movie concludes with Vijay reconciling with his father, Balbir, in a heart-to-heart conversation, acknowledging their past misunderstandings. However, a mid-credits scene sets the stage for a sequel, “Animal Park”, hinting at a continuation of the unresolved conflict with the emergence of a new threat from Aziz, a character undergoing plastic surgery to become Vijay’s doppelgänger.

“Animal” boasts a sprawling narrative that spans emotions, revenge, and family dynamics, but amidst its grandeur, it overlooks the potential depth of exploring the fraternal relationship. The film’s ambition to encompass various themes results in a complex storyline, albeit missing the opportunity to anchor itself firmly with a more profound brotherly connection, which could have enhanced its overall impact. Despite this, the film’s compelling performances, intense sequences, and unpredictable twists keep the audience engaged, setting the stage for a promising sequel.

Picture design by Anumita Roy from IMDb

Sukanya Basu Mallik

Sukanya Basu Mallik is a renowned Indian writer, known for her works in various publications and for winning Best Manuscript Awards for fiction & non-fiction categories (Mumbai Litofest, 2018). She is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras, focusing on organisational behaviour and art-based therapies for enhancing teaching-learning effectiveness using immersive technologies. She was recognised for her short story 'Healing of Wounds' at NCLF, led by Ruskin Bond.

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