PremiumRevisiting Ranbir Kapoor’s Karma, an antidote to Animal where consequence is a concept and law exists
Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sharat Saxena, Karma is a short film also about distressed father-son relationship, directed by Abhay Chopra.
Last Updated: 05.06 PM, Dec 10, 2023
While Rizz is the word of the year 2023, a movie that was released recently and is the talk of town doesn’t have it. However, Animal could be the word of the month for the Hindi film industry, and a fair share of the south, because whether we like it or not, we are all talking about it. No, I am not going to just add another opinion in the pool of gazillion. The movie made 600 crore today, the joke is on us. Let me rather take you years back and remind you that Ranbir served you an antidote years ago as if he knew he would do Animal someday.
Confused? It is almost like Kapoor acted in a good film to then act in a problematic version of it. I am talking about Karma, an almost 30-minute short film that Ranbir Kapoor acted in during the initial days of his career and the movie landed on YouTube just two years ago on Bandra Film Festival’s handle.
Director: Abhay Chopra.
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor and Sharat Saxena.
Platform: YouTube
A tough jailer known for his skill of executing hang till death punishment is transferred to a different jail. One prisoner who is to be hanged in three days is creating havoc. On a closer look turns out the prisoner is none other than the Jailer’s long eloped son and now the first execution he is supposed to do in this new posting is that of his son. What will a father do?
Just like Animal, Karma is also a story about a strained relationship between a son and a father. Even here the son seeks validation, he does wrong things and has chosen the wrong path knowing it is wrong. On the other hand, there is a father who has a heart under the rock-solid appearance. He gives his son a chance to elope again but that doesn’t happen. But do you know what is different and correct in the Chopra directorial? There in a consequence and law.
The problem that is problematic about Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s stories is the fact that consequence and the law are two things that have no say in this world. There is no harm in shaping problematic characters doing all shades of wrong things, but those things need to have an outcome, a consequence. And ‘look, he did lose so much blood and money,’ is not one, just so we are clear on that part. Karma excels in the department. It taps into the helplessness and stubbornness of both the father and the son.
The short film is about two same personalities just on the different side of the spectrum showing us what the extremes will end up with. That Ranbir Kapoor and Sharat Saxena are impeccable in the movie is a given. But the cinematography, BGM, and the entire world-building in just 30 minutes is quite commendable.
Karma almost feels like a subconscious apology from Ranbir Kapoor if you look at it in retrospect. Don’t point that gun at me, rather watch the film. You can watch it on YouTube as the link is attached right below.
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