Assi

About The Movie:

Eighty reported sexual assaults a day, every day. One every twenty minutes and these are just the reported ones. Where does this come from? What does it leave behind? An investigative thriller that unfolds through a powerful courtroom drama

Critics Review :Story:
The courtroom drama centres on Parima (Kani Kusruti), a schoolteacher who is brutally gang-raped while returning home, and the relentless legal battle led by her lawyer, Raavi (Taapsee Pannu). While the case forms the backbone of the narrative, the film expands beyond the crime itself to examine patriarchy, institutional failure, vigilantism, and the quiet societal indifference that allows violence against women to be normalised.

Review:
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Assi takes its title from the approximate number of rapes reported daily in India — nearly 80. The film ensures this statistic never fades into abstraction. At intervals, the screen reminds viewers that another assault has taken place somewhere in the country during the film’s runtime. It’s a chilling device, forcing the audience to confront the scale of the crisis rather than distancing themselves from it.

Parima’s trauma does not end with the assault. Her male students circulate insensitive jokes about her in WhatsApp groups. Her husband Vinay (Zeeshan Ayyub) faces pressure from relatives to withdraw the case in order to “protect the family’s honour.” The police investigation is riddled with corruption, victim-blaming seeps into everyday conversation, and the accused display disturbing indifference. They treat the case like a casual wager — joking among themselves, coordinating outfits for court appearances, and even celebrating at clubs. The fact that each of them has women in their own families becomes a stark, unspoken irony.

Running parallel to the courtroom proceedings is the emergence of a masked vigilante dubbed the ‘Chhatri Man,’ who begins targeting the accused when faith in the system falters. The narrative thoughtfully questions the morality and consequences of mob justice and media trials. One of the film’s most striking scenes features Raavi being publicly humiliated — her face smeared with black ink — after she speaks out against vigilante violence.

The strength of any courtroom drama lies in its arguments, and writer Gaurav Solanki crafts sharp, emotionally charged exchanges for Raavi. Her references to real-life cases — from infants assaulted to elderly women brutalised — are among the most gut-wrenching moments in the film. Yet, despite the harrowing subject, the storytelling avoids exaggerated melodrama. Its restraint makes the impact more unsettling and reflective rather than sensational.

The film also gestures toward the future through the presence of children in the narrative, subtly stressing the importance of raising a more aware and empathetic generation. The bond between Vinay and his young son Dhruv adds emotional depth, especially in scenes where the father acknowledges that shielding children from harsh realities is nearly impossible.

Taapsee Pannu delivers a commanding performance, balancing anger, compassion, and controlled wit. Kani Kusruti is remarkable in portraying a survivor navigating pain, dignity, and resilience. Revathy lends authority and quiet gravitas as the presiding judge, while Kumud Mishra offers a layered turn. Zeeshan Ayyub’s understated portrayal of a conflicted husband is quietly powerful.

Unflinching yet measured, Assi is not designed for comfort viewing. It compels, disturbs, and demands introspection. For its urgent subject matter, compelling performances, and thoughtful storytelling, it is a film that deserves to be experienced on the big screen.

Cast:

Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra

Director:

Anubhav Sinha