Assi is not a film you watch casually. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, this hard-hitting courtroom and social drama compels viewers to confront the harsh reality of sexual violence without offering comfort or cinematic relief. Riding heavily on the powerful performances of Kani Kusruti and Taapsee Pannu, Assi emerges as one of the most disturbing yet necessary films in recent Hindi cinema.
At a time when celebrated filmmaker Wim Wenders recently remarked at the Berlin Film Festival that films should never be political, Assi stands in quiet but firm opposition. This is political cinema by its very existence — and it refuses to dilute its message.
An Unsettling Wake-Up Call
The story follows Parima (Kani Kusruti), a schoolteacher living a modest life with her husband Vinay (Mohd Zeeshan Ayub). Her world collapses when she is abducted by four young men and brutally assaulted in a moving vehicle. The attack leaves her partially blind — a physical and symbolic scar that shapes the rest of the narrative.
While the police swiftly identify suspects using CCTV footage and eyewitnesses, the real battle begins in court. Parima must confront her attackers and identify them despite her damaged eyesight. The legal system becomes both a battleground and a test of endurance.
Raavi (Taapsee Pannu), her lawyer, builds the case with steely determination. Meanwhile, Deepraj (Manoj Pahwa), father of one accused, uses privilege and influence to manipulate proceedings. Running parallel is Kartik (Kumud Mishra), grieving his wife, a public prosecutor who died in a hit-and-run case that never saw justice.
Stark, Unfiltered Storytelling
What distinguishes Assi is its tonal restraint. Anubhav Sinha does not rely on melodrama. Instead, he stages scenes with suffocating intimacy, pulling viewers uncomfortably close to the trauma.
The assault sequence is extremely difficult to watch — not because it is sensationalised, but because it is stripped of cinematic cushioning. There is no stylised choreography of violence. The brutality feels real, raw, and devastating.
Throughout the film, a stark red message appears every 20 minutes stating that another rape has occurred during the runtime. It is a chilling reminder that what unfolds on screen mirrors a relentless real-world crisis.
The cinematography complements the narrative’s gravity, maintaining a subdued palette that reflects Parima’s emotional landscape. The screenplay remains focused, resisting the temptation to over-dramatise events that are already horrifying.
Performances That Cut Deep
Kani Kusruti delivers a career-defining performance as Parima. Known internationally for After All We Imagine as Light, she brings extraordinary restraint to this role. Her portrayal avoids theatrical outbursts; instead, she conveys trauma through silence, hesitation, and subtle physical shifts.
One courtroom scene — where Parima removes the cloth from her face to identify the accused — is executed with emotional precision. It is a moment that lingers long after the credits roll.
Taapsee Pannu, as Raavi, anchors the narrative with quiet resolve. Her performance is measured yet firm, embodying a lawyer who understands both the law and the emotional weight of her client’s ordeal. Under Sinha’s direction, Pannu once again demonstrates why she remains one of the most dependable performers in socially driven cinema.
Supporting actors Manoj Pahwa and Kumud Mishra add further texture, portraying morally complex characters shaped by personal grief and societal power structures.
A Necessary Political Statement
Assi does not beg for sympathy. It demands accountability. The film refuses spectacle and instead opts for confrontation. It questions how frequently silence is interpreted as consent and how privilege shields perpetrators.
Stories about violence against women are never easy to consume. But films like Assi argue that discomfort is sometimes essential. By presenting trauma without cinematic sugarcoating, Anubhav Sinha ensures the message remains undiluted.
The anger the film evokes feels organic — not manufactured. It arises from witnessing institutional indifference and societal complicity.
Jay-Ho Verdict
Assi is more than a film; it is a statement of intent. It challenges viewers to reflect on the systems that perpetuate injustice and the silences that enable it.
Powered by remarkable performances from Kani Kusruti and Taapsee Pannu, and guided by Anubhav Sinha’s steady hand, the film emerges as urgent, relevant, and deeply unsettling.
