'Assi' Early Review, Taapsee Pannu's Bold, Thought Provoking Film Will Leave Viewers Unsettled

Anubhav Sinha’s ASSI is all set to release on February 26, 2026. The story once again establishes Anubhav’s image as the creator who deals in thrilling drama that operates on socio-political issues, topped with drama and Bollywood masala. Anubhav has long dealt with stories revolving around grand hypothetical heists with gangs, fighting and competing in an elaborate scheme to complete a never-thought-of heist before. But for quite some time,  Anubhav has been experimenting with gripping thrillers like Article 15 and Mulk.

Anubhav is once again working with Tapsee Pannu after the success of Mulk and Thappad, in a movie which deals with an intense courtroom drama about r*pe. Although the movie is struggling to portray a clear difference between what the film wants to say and how it is being said, the audience is waiting for the film to hit the theatres and pass judgment on it. Here’s what we know about Assi based on its early reviews.

What do we know about the theme and plot of Assi?

Assi is a hard-hitting, terrifying courtroom drama that will make the audience sit and think about where they are headed as a society. The 133-minute-long feature follows a teacher, 'Parima', portrayed by Kani Kusruti, who is brutally gang-r*ped while returning home one evening. Taapsee Pannu plays her lawyer, 'Raavi', who goes far beyond to fight for justice in 'Prima’s' case. The story deals with more than just a r*pe surviver fighting to get the justice she deserves; it talks about the corrupt political system in the country, affluent parenting, patriarchy, societal apathy, and, most of all, it talks about how the society has normalised crimes against women that go as brutal as a s*xual assault or r*pe.

As the story develops, we see 'Parima’s' male students make a joke about her assault in their WhatsApp groups, where one of the students can be seen writing “why wasn’t I invited?”. While all this is happening on the flip side, 'Parima’s' husband, portrayed by Zeeshan Ayyub, is pressured into dropping the case to save the honour of his family and 'Parima'. The officer in charge of investigating her case is as corrupt as one can get in the system; he blames the victim, while the accused show no regret about their actions. The whole plot turns into a mirror that is held up by Anubhav for society. Every few minutes in the movie, there is a flash about how many r*pes have occurred in India during the run-time of the movie.

What makes it even more disturbing is that the accused have no remorse and are seen living their life very nonchalantly, buying alcohol, going to parties, exchanging scarves in the courtroom to match their outfits. Ironically, all the accused have some sort of a female presence in their life, be it their mother, sister, daughter, or girlfriend and yet they remain totally unaware of the intensity of what they did to 'Parima'. There’s Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays a dual role of a father and a husband. When he first sees his wife in a hospital bed, almost comatose and disfigured, he flashes a smile to his son, telling him his mother is sleeping. He doesn’t break down even once.

Why is Assi not getting the loud Bollywood promotional events and media appearances? 

Assi is lying low in terms of promotions and media appearance and the makers have also not spoken loudly about it. Their silent demeanour may be because of the sensitive theme of the film and the thought that it does not need to be promoted the way other Bollywood films are promoted. Anubhav wants viewers to discover the film on their own and understand the harsh reality of a nation on the edge. The film presents a statistical look at how r*pe continues to threaten women in India right at the beginning, something most films leave for the end. This is not just the story of one woman; Kani Kusruti delivers a haunting performance as a woman trapped in a world with no hope or light. Her reality is bleak and suffocating, which reminds us again and again that around 80 ra*pes occur every day, and she tragically becomes one of the victims.

The film lacks grip as it moves towards the end

As a filmmaker, Anubhav is widely appreciated for his films and for not sticking to one genre. On one hand, if he does films like Dus, he also does films like Thappad, and does justice to each. He deals with the film’s aesthetics, lighting, intensity and raw expression of emotions with utmost sincerity. The film seems to lose its grip in the second half, where the strong momentum built in the opening begins to fade. The narrative feels dragged, and several character arcs lack clarity, making it difficult to connect emotionally with their journeys.

A deeper exploration of these characters could have strengthened the story. Many subplots are introduced with a bang but remain underdeveloped, and instead of enriching the narrative, they add clutter. Some scenes appear only briefly, including those featuring a frail, Kumud Mishra and an unusual twist in his character, which is revealed too early and creates a short-lasting impact. The film had the potential to be a taut thriller and a tense courtroom drama, but it falls short on both counts. Kani Kusruti, carries much of the emotional weight and tries to hold the film together, yet the turmoil of both victims and perpetrators feels rushed, preventing the audience from fully absorbing their trauma. Despite the mixed reviews, the film is still a reality that society needs to be shown time and time again, and Anubhav does a great job with Tappsee and Kani Kusruti. 

Watch Assi in theatres on February 20, 2026!

Also Read: 'Chatha Pacha' OTT Release Date, When And Where To Watch Roshan Mathew And Arjun Ashokan's Movie

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