T-Series Films and Benaras Mediaworks’ Assi (A) is the story of a rape victim’s fight for justice.
Parima (Kani Kusruti) is brutally gang-raped. Advocate Raavi (Taapsee Pannu) tries to get her justice but the loopholes in the legal system are so many that it is not an easy task.
Anubhav Sinha and Gaurav Solanki have written a story which meanders here and there and, therefore, loses in impact. Since it is a story about a gang-rape victim, nothing but a huge impact on the viewers was what was needed. However, in trying to prove the point that at least 80 rapes are committed every day in the country, the impact of Parima’s rape gets diluted. Rather than hitting the audience hard, Anubhav Sinha and Gaurav Solanki’s screenplay often becomes boring and is sometimes preachy, too. Parima’s husband, Vinay (Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub), bringing his little son to court for the hearings doesn’t really shake the audience, which is what it was supposed to do. Likewise, showing school children attending the court hearing one day doesn’t serve to drive home any point. The track of Kartik (Kumud Mishra) and his back-story looks forced into the drama. All in all, the screenplay is rather weak. Even the climax is disappointing for two reasons: judge Vasudha (Revathy) does not pronounce her judgement, and advocate Raavi’s lecture is almost like a self-defeating sermon. The duo’s dialogues are often hard-hitting and thought-provoking.
Taapsee Pannu acts well as advocate Raavi. She does justice to the character. Kani Kusruti delivers a confident performance as Parima. Revathy lends dignity to the character of judge Vasudha. Kumud Mishra is excellent in the role of Kartik. Manoj Pahwa leaves a wonderful mark as Deepraj. Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub is superb as Parima’s husband, Vinay. Satyajit Sharma is excellent as advocate Navratan. Rajendra Sethi lends fine support as Ashutosh. Jatin Goswami is quite nice as Sanjay. Naseeruddin Shah is good in a brief special appearance. Supriya Pathak shines in a brief special appearance as Deepraj’s wife. Seema Pahwa leaves a mark in a brief special appearance. Master Advik Jaiswal is cute as Parima’s son, Dhruv. Sahil Sethi is realistic as Sameer. Vipul Gupta (as Ballu), Abhishek Kaushal (as Bunty), Tejender Singh (as Ghool), Abhishant Rana (as Nikka) and Sudhana Sankar (as Meera) provide fair support.
Anubhav Sinha’s direction is so-so. For a story of this kind, the narration needed to be far more forceful. Ranjit Barot’s background music is reasonably impactful. Ewan Mulligan’s cinematography is good. Riyaz & Habib’s action and stunt scenes are engaging. Production designing (by Nikhil Kovale and Apurva Vijay Bhagat) is fair. Amarjit Singh’s editing could’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Assi is a poor show all the way.
Released on 20-2-’26 at Inox (daily 4 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity & opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.