With Assi, Anubhav Sinha once again returns to territory that has increasingly defined his cinematic voice — the fragile architecture of justice and the human cost of its delays. Reuniting with Taapsee Pannu, a collaboration that has previously yielded films like Mulk and Thappad, Anubhav Sinha crafts a courtroom drama that is less about verdicts and more about the emotional debris left behind.
We have, over the years, witnessed several films revolving around justice for rape survivors. When one considers the broader repertoire that includes Pink, Naam Shabana, Mulk, Article 15, Badla, Thappad, and Anek, the creative synergy between Anubhav Sinha and Taapsee Pannu already builds a certain expectation — of intensity, of moral confrontation, of uncomfortable introspection. Assi not only carries that weight but attempts to deepen it. Its real strength lies not merely in the subject it chooses, but in the way the story is narrated and how its characters are designed and presented.
The narrative is grim from the outset, yet it reaches an altogether different emotional pitch whenever the survivor Parima (Kani Kusruti), takes centre stage. Her performance is devastating in its honesty. There is no performative victimhood, no cinematic embellishment — just a raw articulation of trauma that makes the viewer instinctively pray for her relief. In those moments, the film sheds the structure of a courtroom drama and becomes painfully intimate.
Equally affecting is the portrayal of her husband Vinay (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub). He presents a calm and composed exterior, but beneath it simmers an internal battle — one fought not just against the accused, but against his own helplessness. His quiet resilience, especially as he attempts to preserve the familial fabric for their very young son — a child perceptive enough to sense that something is deeply wrong — adds layers of poignancy. The domestic silences speak as loudly as the courtroom arguments.
Among the most intriguing presences is Kartik (Kumud Mishra). His character draws unique attention precisely because so little is overtly revealed. He appears to carry a heavy heart of a man shaped by unseen burdens. There is something watchful and weighed-down about him, and that restraint keeps the audience leaning forward, searching for subtext in every gesture.
At the centre of the legal storm stands Raavi (Taapsee Pannu), who by now seems to inhabit courtroom dramas and thrillers with instinctive ease. Here, she plays a lawyer not merely fighting for one client, but symbolically arguing for many — for every uncounted “assi” that slips into statistics. Her performance is firm without theatrics, impassioned without slipping into melodrama. She carries the film’s moral spine with clarity and conviction.
Revathi, as the presiding judge Vasudha, delivers a nuanced portrayal rarely seen onscreen. She is balanced, composed, and quietly authoritative — punchy when required, yet never preachy. Her courtroom is not a stage for grandstanding, but a space where restraint becomes power.
What ultimately distinguishes Assi is its refusal to simplify morality. The film does not operate in binaries of heroes and villains. There are no towering protagonists or caricatured antagonists — only individuals placed on different sides of the law and circumstances. This tonal choice lends the film maturity. It recognises that systemic injustice is rarely the product of a single monster; it is often the result of layered apathy, fear, ego, and social conditioning.
Yes, the subject is heavy and the narrative unrelenting. But Assi is compelling not merely because of what it talks about, but because of how it portrays the people affected by it. It is less about sensationalising crime and more about observing consequence — emotional, familial, societal. In doing so, Anubhav Sinha delivers a film that does not seek applause for its outrage, but reflection for its realism.
Movie: Assi
Directed By: Anubhav Sinha
Featuring: Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Advik Jaiswal (Child Artist),
Special Appearances by: Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, Seema Pahwa
Run Time: 2hrs 13mins
Theatrical Release Date: 20 February 2026
Assi
3.5