Ever since its release ‘Animal’ has been getting a lot of mixed reviews, especially in regards to its anti-feminist dialogues and scenes. The film has nonetheless made crores, yet it is still getting a lot of backlash from many celebs and critics. Javed Akhtar is one of the many celebs who has openly criticized the movie ‘Animal’ for its vulgar dialogues and anti-feminist remarks. The veteran writer called out the movie and said that the success of these kinds of films is dangerous.
Javed Akhtar’s comment on the film Animal
Akhtar said, “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.” The comments were made during the 9th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Javed Akhtar slammed the film’s makers and said that it is a very problematic movie referring to the dialogue where Ranbir’s character tells a woman to “lick his shoes.” Javed was referring to a key scene in the movie Animal, in which Zoya (Triptii Dimri), the main character played by Ranbir Kapoor, is asked to lick his shoes to demonstrate her love for him. There was debate regarding the scene previously too. The slapping appeared to be a reference to Sandeep’s 2019 movie Kabir Singh, which starred Kiara Advani and Shahid Kapoor.
The film’s team reacts to Javed Akhtar’s comment
The film’s official team has strongly reacted to the criticism against the movie. “Writer of your calibre cannot understand the betrayal of a lover (Between Zoya & Ranvijay) then all your art form is big FALSE 🙃 & If a woman (betrayed and fooled by a man in the name of love) would have said “lick my shoe” then you guys would have celebrated it by calling it feminism. Let love be free from the politics of gender. Let’s just call them lovers. LOVER cheated and lied. LOVER said lick my shoe. Period @Javedakhtarjadu,” the post read.
The public reacts to the team’s post and supports Javed Akhtar’s comments
Soon after the team of Animal slammed Javed Akhtar for his criticism, the netizens started giving backlash to the film’s makers even more. One wrote,” You all call yourself as Alpha males and get affected by someone’s comments every few days lol”. Another user commented,” Javed Akhtar has written greatest movies/songs of all times! Animal won’t even be remembered after few years! Class is Class! Quality is Quality! Making money isn’t a measure of quality” Another user wrote, “@Javedakhtarjadu has written so many iconic pieces. Even his latest “Nikle the kabhi hum Ghar se” is deeper than your entire film bud. So chill and let others have and share their opinions. Bade aaye Alpha banne, ek comment to hazam hota nahin.”
The official Animal page has a history of taking offense at criticism; in the past, it has attacked writer-actor Swanand Kirkire, film critic Anupam Chopra, and reporters who have criticized the movie.
By: Gursharan Kaur