Assi Review: Despite the Mess, Makes Some Powerful Speeches

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐3/5*

Assi Review Movie Talkies:

It wasn’t exactly a cheerful Valentine’s Day for me, as I ended up watching Assi — a hard-hitting film that stands in complete contrast to the romantic mood usually associated with the day. Jokes apart, this is a film rooted in "relevance." Delhi is infamous for women’s safety issues and is often labeled one of the most unsafe cities in India for women. Assi brings this bitter reality to life once again through its narrative, underlining the seriousness and sensitivity of a brutal crime like rape.

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Every year, the number of reported rape cases in India touches nearly 30,000. Are we doing enough to reduce that number? That question feels like a tight slap — especially to the male community. Assi attempts to make us realize that not all men are rapists, but those who are should feel ashamed of themselves. If the film succeeds in instilling even a fraction of that realization, that would be its biggest victory. As a cinematic experience, it presents an important story and features some extremely strong speeches that shake you from within. However, it is also weighed down by flawed writing, weak structuring, and underwhelming performances.

Assi Story:

On a fateful night, Parima (Kani Kusruti) is traveling back home alone. As many girls and women in Delhi fear every day, she is assaulted inside a moving car and later abandoned on railway tracks. The brutality is disturbing, and the film doesn’t shy away from showing the psychological aftermath. Advocate Raavi (Taapsee Pannu) takes up her case and does everything in her power to deliver justice. But the odds are stacked against them. Parima fails to identify the rapists. DNA samples do not match. There is no concrete evidence to directly implicate the accused. Just when everything appears to collapse, a mysterious movement called “Umbrella Man” emerges. Whether this vigilante-style revolution delivers justice forms the core of the remaining narrative.

Assi Film Review:

Technically speaking, the film suffers from several glaring flaws in its writing. I genuinely don’t understand how certain loopholes went unnoticed. The courtroom proceedings and the handling of evidence lack sharpness and intelligence. The entire legal battle feels underwritten. For instance, Parima had her phone in the car — and possibly so did the accused. Couldn’t the investigators track locations or digital footprints to strengthen the case? In today’s era of advanced technology, this omission feels careless. The legal drama should have been smarter and tighter. Kumud Mishra’s character, unfortunately, makes very little sense. His presence feels messy and underdeveloped. The vigilante angle — the so-called “Umbrella Man” revolution — comes across as somewhat banal and dramatically convenient. The film introduces powerful ideas but fails to explore some of them deeply enough. Several points that should have been central are either rushed or ignored. The finale, in particular, feels frustrating and unnecessarily stretched.

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Writers Sinha and Solanki’s on-paper material feels weak in places. Yet, despite all this, what makes the film work are its hard-hitting comments. There are moments where the dialogues pierce through the flaws. The involvement of a child in the narrative, and the final verdict delivered by a female judge in front of schoolchildren — these sequences land with impact. They make strong moral sense. The final moments also carry a subtle undertone about justice, though the repeated emphasis on the “an eye for an eye” philosophy feels somewhat redundant. Most of us already stand united when it comes to punishing rapists. Therefore, some of Taapsee’s heavy-handed statements feel like preaching to the converted rather than challenging the system in a new way. There are definite highs and definite lows. As a whole, however, the film remains engaging. It may frustrate you, but it also compels you to think.

Assi Cast:

Speaking of performances, this turns out to be one of the film’s more disappointing aspects. Taapsee Pannu looks convincing in certain intense courtroom scenes, but she loses consistency elsewhere. She should have been the strongest pillar of the film, but instead she feels mid-tier — or even weak in patches. Her emotional beats don’t always connect with the depth required for such a heavy subject. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub plays a supportive yet silent husband — the kind of character many viewers might end up disliking because of his passivity. Kumud Mishra is underutilized, and his character suffers from poor writing. Revathi delivers a good performance and brings maturity to her role. Kani Kusruti looks believable and restrained, portraying trauma without over-dramatizing it. Advik Jaiswal is "nice" and does his part sincerely. Naseeruddin Shah has limited scope and doesn’t get enough space to shine. Supriya Pathak’s cameo, unfortunately, arrives with a weakly written scene that doesn’t leave much impact.

On the technical front, Assi does have a few positives. The cinematography stands out for its slightly unconventional approach. There are moments where the camera remains stable while the characters move within the frame, often capturing only half of their bodies. This stylistic choice creates a subtle sense of discomfort and incompleteness — perhaps mirroring the fractured justice system. In the final scene, the rotating camera offers a top-angle perspective from a child’s viewpoint, which adds a fresh visual layer to the narrative. The background score works effectively in many sequences, enhancing tension without becoming overpowering. However, the editing falters. Some scenes drag unnecessarily, and tighter cuts could have elevated the emotional impact. The music, too, doesn’t leave a lasting impression. The production design, on the other hand, feels authentic to Delhi’s setting.

Assi Movie Review:

Anubhav Sinha seems conflicted at times — almost lost in certain narrative choices. But when it comes to delivering strong social speeches, he regains control. His storytelling instinct understands the urgency of the subject, even if his execution doesn’t always match that intent. It is his vision that makes the film important, yet it is also his uneven handling that occasionally makes you dislike it. Despite all its messiness, Assi succeeds in delivering powerful statements that linger long after the credits roll. It may not be a flawless film, but it dares to speak. And sometimes, that is enough to spark reflection. You may walk out irritated by its cinematic flaws, but you cannot walk out unaffected. The film leaves you with one clear message — it is our responsibility, and that of the next generation, to "DO BETTER." And perhaps that thought alone makes Assi worth watching.

Assi hits cinemas on February 20, 2026.

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