Swanand Kirkire Criticizes “Animal”; Film’s Official Account Responds with Sarcastic Remark
Swanand Kirkire, renowned lyricist, writer, and actor, took to X on December 2 to share his thoughts on Ranbir Kapoor’s latest film, “Animal.” The Sandeep Reddy Vanga-directed film has been making waves at the box office, despite polarizing reviews that criticized its portrayal of misogyny and hypermasculinity. Swanand Kirkire’s commentary prompted a response from the official X page of “Animal.”
In a series of Hindi tweets, Swanand Kirkire expressed his dismay about the film’s impact on the portrayal of men and women. He lamented, “But today after watching the movie Animal, I really felt pity for the women of today’s generation. Now, a new man has been prepared for you, who is scarier, who does not respect you that much and who aims to subdue you, suppress you and feels proud of himself.”
He continued, addressing the applause for a scene where the female character played by Rashmika Mandanna is beaten, “When you, the girls of today’s generation, were sitting in that cinema hall and applauding Rashmika getting beaten, I in my mind paid homage to every idea of equality. I have come home desperate, dejected and weak!”
In his concluding remarks, he raised concerns about the impact of the film on Indian cinema, stating, “Ranbir’s dialogue in which he defines the alpha male and says that those men who are not able to become alpha, they become poets to get the pleasure of all women and start making promises of breaking the moon and stars. I am a poet! I do poetry to live! Is there a place for me? A film is making a lot of money and the glorious history of Indian cinema is being embarrassed.
Responding to Kirkire’s comments, the official X account of “Animal” posted a newspaper report of his reaction with a caption that took a dig at the lyricist’s remarks. The caption cheekily referenced a fitness tip and tagged Swanand Kirkire, saying, “Do not let your knees fall ahead of your toes or cave in towards each other. Keep feet shoulder-width apart to maintain a good base of support for balance. Land softly on the balls of the feet to help absorb the force of the landing. Yes…. now it landed perfectly (flying kiss emoticon) @swanandkirkire”
The response triggered mixed reactions on the platform, with some users criticizing the film and others defending its success. The exchange highlighted the ongoing debate around the themes and portrayal in “Animal,” showcasing the diverse opinions surrounding the film.
Animal” features an ensemble cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri, Suresh Oberoi, Shakti Kapoor, and Prem Chopra. The plot centers on Ranbir Kapoor’s character, Ranvijay Singh, and his relationship with his father, played by Anil Kapoor, within the backdrop of a crime-infested underworld.
