We often move ahead by scrolling through the news. Another crime, another headline, another debate. But what happens after that one ‘headline’? Assi brings forward the same untold part, where figures become humans and humans become wounds.
The statistics of sexual crimes in India are not just numbers recorded in government files, they are the silence of homes where laughter suddenly disappears. Director Anubhav Sinha once again does what he is known for, not comfortable cinema, inconvenient truth.
After ‘Mulk’ and ‘Thappad’, this time Taapsee Pannu is with him, and the result is a film that both makes you watch and test you. ‘Assi’ produced by T-Series is releasing in theaters on February 20. But the question is not about the release date. The question is, are we ready to face the truth that this film presents to us?
The story revolves around Parima (Kani Kusruti), an ordinary teacher, who is living a simple and happy life in Delhi with her husband Vinay (Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub) and son Dhruv (Advik Mein Jaiswal). One night, while returning home, his world falls apart.
Five people kidnap her, gang-rape her and leave her in a half-life. After this, the film is not just a crime story, it becomes a search for justice, a fight for self-respect and a mirror of the mentality of the society. Lawyer Raavi (Taapsee Pannu) represents Parima in the court.
But the views outside the courtroom are more difficult than the debate inside the courtroom. What is the meaning of the name ‘Assi’, it is revealed like a symbol at the end of the film. ‘Assi’ was not made for entertainment. It makes you uncomfortable, shocks you and sometimes silences you. The treatment of the film is very raw. Anubhav Sinha does not soften any scene for glamorous or cinematic effect.
The slate that appears on the screen every 20 minutes is a stark reminder that crime is not just part of the story, it is the reality of today. In between, the pace of the film slows down a bit and a sub-plot like ‘Chhatri Man’ gives a slight distraction, but the strength of the basic story remains.
Directing and writing
The film’s writer Gaurav Solanki did not allow anger to become noise in the dialogues. The words are quiet, but the impact is deep. The courtroom was not made into a dramatic spectacle here. The arguments are real, the judge’s severity feels real and the burden of the process is felt.
This is the credibility of the film. The duo of Anubhav Sinha and Gaurav Solanki has presented the truth without any pretense, and this is its biggest strength.
Kani Kusruti is the heartbeat of this film. The silence on his face and the emptiness in his eyes speak more than words. She does not live up to the standards. Taapsee Pannu is seen as a well-mannered, determined and confident lawyer. His performance is restrained, but impressive.
Advik Jaiswal has innocently portrayed the confusion of a child who suddenly collides with the cruel truth of the big world. In the supporting cast, actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Revathi and Seema Pahwa give gravitas and weight to the film.
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