Some films are not meant to entertain you. They sit with you and make you uncomfortable. Assi, directed by Anubhav Sinha, is that kind of film. And that is exactly why it feels important right now.
We are used to cinema that helps us escape. And we definitely need those films. Easy stories, clear heroes, satisfying endings. Assi refuses all of that. It looks at sexual violence and the justice system without softening anything. It does not try to make things easier for the viewer. That honesty can feel very unsettling, even overwhelming, but it also feels necessary.
Taapsee Pannu carries the film with a performance that is really really good. There is no dramatic gloss here. She looks like a person trying to navigate a system that is so distant from people it is meant to protect.
The controversy around Assi comes from this exact approach. Some people believe the film is too harsh. Others feel it is finally saying things that are usually avoided. It does not give you comfort or clear answers, and that can be frustrating. But maybe that is the point.
The movie is coming on ZEE5 on the 17th of April. It is literally this week. Let’s see what kind of reception it gets.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
