Assi Review : Why Taapsee Pannu’s New Courtroom Drama is a Slap to Our Collective Silence

In an era where cinema often prioritizes mindless entertainment, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha returns with a story that doesn't just ask for your attention it demands your conscience. His latest offering, 'Assi' (meaning 80), which hits theaters on February 20, 2026, is a searing exploration of a reality we often swipe past in our newsfeeds.

The title itself is a haunting statistic: approximately 80 rapes are reported every single day in India. But as the film points out, those are just the ones we know about.

The Story: A Life Altered in a Heartbeat

The film centers on Parima (played by a brilliantly restrained Kani Kusruti), a Malayali teacher living in Delhi with her husband Vinay (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) and their young son. Her life is shattered one night when she is abducted, gang-raped in a moving car, and left for dead on a railway track.

While the crime is horrific, the movie focuses on the "aftermath." It follows the legal battle led by Advocate Raavi (Taapsee Pannu), an exhausted but relentless lawyer fighting a system rigged by corruption, patriarchy, and apathy.

Breaking the Fourth Wall

One of the most unsettling elements of 'Assi' is Sinha’s decision to interrupt the narrative. Every 20 minutes, a message flashes on the screen, reminding the audience that while they are watching the film, another assault has occurred somewhere in the country. This isn't just a cinematic gimmick; it’s a notification that makes it impossible to remain a passive viewer.

Performance Report Card

Taapsee Pannu: As Raavi, Taapsee delivers a grounded, sharp-edged performance. She avoids the "heroic lawyer" tropes, playing a woman who is visibly frustrated by the loopholes she has to navigate.

Kani Kusruti: Kani is the soul of the film. Her portrayal of a survivor trying to reclaim her normalcy—facing a school principal who won't take her back and neighbors who whisper—is heartbreakingly real.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub: Perhaps the biggest revelation is Zeeshan’s character, Vinay. He plays a husband who doesn't scream for blood or perform "heroic" anger. Instead, he simply stays. His quiet, unwavering support for his wife is a revolutionary take on masculinity in Bollywood.

The Verdict: Why You Must Watch It

'Assi' is not a "feel-good" movie. It’s a "feel-uncomfortable" movie. It exposes how society reacts to a survivor—from the school principal who fires her because "parents will feel awkward," to the perpetrators who swap scarves in court as if it’s all a game.

The film serves as a mirror to our rot. It suggests that justice isn't just about a judge’s gavel (played with great gravitas by Revathy); it’s about whether we, as a society, are willing to stand beside a survivor when the spotlights go out.

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