Animal is a 2023 action drama that follows the story of Ranvijay (Ranbir Kapoor), the ruthless son of a powerful industrialist, with whom has a troubled relationship. In order to make his father proud, Ranvijay runs into a path of vengeance and destruction, killing everybody he thinks is conspiring against his father and losing his wife and children in the process, only to realise that all his efforts were in vain because his dad had cancer and would have died anyway. On top of the plot’s stupidity, Animal is a concentration of toxic masculinity and patriarchal glorification through its depiction of violence, emotional repression, and rigid gender roles, that  perfectly align with Bollywood’s tradition of promoting hyper-masculine ideals.

Following Jenner’s theory, Netflix’s strategy is to create and acquire region-specific content to resonate with local audiences while also reaching a global viewership (Jenner, 2018). In this context, Animal exemplifies how Netflix taps into Indian culture and society, perpetuating toxic stereotypes such as male dominance and family honour to please the target audience. Through Animal, Netflix is essentially influencing India’s cinematography by amplifying ideals of toxic masculinity and patriarchal norms that are already largely diffused in Indian society. At the same time, Netflix is globally showcasing how these same ideals are deeply rooted in Indian culture and Bollywood industry, positioning the film as both entertainment and a tool through which society norms need to be addressed.

However, although exposing these narratives to international audiences is sparking critical discussions about gender dynamics, questions arise about whether amplifying such content perpetuates harmful stereotypes. In fact, these cinematic portrayals are unfortunately reflective of real-world issues. According to India’s National Crime Records, 77% of women experience domestic violence (PTI, 2022). These statistics highlight issues that films like Animal indirectly mirror.

Should Netflix reflect cultural norms or should it challenge them? To reply to this question, we need to understand that Netflix operates in a competitive market. While this strategy makes sense from a business perspective, it’s disappointing from an ethical one because Animal underscores the need for a more balanced approach because profit should not come at the cost of people’s lives.

Written by: Autilia Federica Spiezia (33747963)

References:

Jenner, M. (2018) ‘Introduction: Netflix and the re-invention of television’, Netflix and the Re-invention of Television, pp. 1–31. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-94316-9_1. 

Pti (2022) Financialexpress, India News | The Financial Express. Available at: https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ncrb-data-india-witnessed-86-rapes-every-day-46-offences-against-women-every-hour-in-2021/2650292/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (Accessed: 29 November 2024).