'Animal' has joined list of Indian cinema classics: Allu Arjun

New Delhi: "Pushpa: The Rise" star Allu Arjun on Friday said he was blown away by the "cinematic brilliance" of "Animal" and praised leading man Ranbir Kapoor for his inspiring performance in the action drama.

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film earned Rs 563.3 crore gross at the worldwide box office in the first week of its release, the makers said.

In a lengthy post on X, Arjun congratulated the cast and crew of "Animal", describing the movie as one to have joined "the classics of Indian Cinema List".

"#Animal. Just mind blowing. Blown away by the cinematic brilliance. Congratulations! #RanbirKapoor ji just took Indian cinema performances to a whole new level. Very Inspiring. I am truly in loss of words to explain the magic you’ve created. My deep Respects to the highest level," the National Award-winning actor wrote on the microblogging site.

#Animal . Just mind blowing. Blown away by the cinematic brilliance. Congratulations! #RanbirKapoor ji just took Indian cinema performances to a whole new level. Very Inspiring . I am truly in loss of words to explain the magic you’ve created . My deep Respects to the highest…

— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) December 8, 2023

Arjun said Vanga had "exceeded all cinematic limitations".

"The intensity is unmatchable. You made us all proud once again. I can clearly see how your films are going to change the face of Indian cinema now and in the future!" he added.

"Animal" released on December 1 in theatres in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. It also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, and Triptii Dimri.

Arjun lauded his "Pushpa" co-star, saying "@iamRashmika Brilliant & Magnetic! Dear this is your best performance by far & much more to unfold." "@thedeol ji's impactful performance silences us. Your Terrific presence commands respect. @AnilKapoor Ji's was effortless & intense. Your experience speaks volumes sir.

"This young lady @tripti_dimri23 is breaking hearts. May you break more! All the other artists & technicians showcased their finest best. Congratulations!" he added in the post.

While it is running successfully in theatres, a section of critics and viewers have slammed "Animal", calling it misogynistic and graphically violent.

The pan-India movie, which was given A certificate by the CBFC ahead of its release, showcases a violent world set against the backdrop of a troubled relationship between Ranbir Kapoor's Ranvijay Singh and his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor.

"Animal" is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar's T-Series, Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios and Pranay Reddy Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures.