तर्क से सिद्ध किया जा सकता है
Anubhav Sinha’s Assi, which released on February 20, 2026, is a heavy-hitting courtroom drama that takes a sharp, unflinching look at India’s rape crisis and the systemic rot that surrounds it. The title itself—Assi (meaning 80)—refers to the grim statistic of eighty reported sexual assaults in India every day.
The story follows Parima (Kani Kusruti), a Malayali school teacher living in Delhi with her husband Vinay (Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub) and their young son. After being abducted and gang-raped by five men in a moving car, Parima is left to navigate a harrowing legal battle.
Taapsee Pannu stars as Raavi, a steely and cynical lawyer who takes up Parima's case. Unlike typical "heroic" legal dramas, Assi focuses on the grueling reality of a system where evidence is easily tampered with, DNA samples don't match, and the accused use societal indifference to their advantage.
The film is being praised primarily for its ensemble cast:
Kani Kusruti: Critics have called her the "soul" of the film, delivering a devastatingly effective performance as a survivor who refuses to be shamed.
Taapsee Pannu: Returning to the "black coat" after Mulk, she is noted for her maturity and "steely resolve."
Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub: He plays the husband with a quiet, supportive strength that subverts traditional "masculine" tropes in Indian cinema.
Supporting Cast: Stalwarts like Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Revathy (as the judge) provide grounded, high-quality performances.
| Aspect | Reception |
| Direction | Anubhav Sinha is praised for his "audacious" and "sharpened" syntax, though some critics feel he occasionally loses focus with side subplots. |
| Tone | Unflinching and unsettling. It is not a "comfortable" watch and is designed to provoke anger and discomfort. |
| Pacing | The first half is described as a gripping thriller, while the second half (the legal battle) is seen by some as slightly inconsistent or wandering. |
| Rating | Generally hovering between 3.0 to 4.0 stars depending on the publication. |
Watch it if: You appreciate socially conscious cinema like Pink, Mulk, or Thappad. It’s a powerful interrogation of everyday patriarchy and institutional complicity.
Skip it if: You are sensitive to depictions of sexual violence or are looking for lighthearted entertainment. The film is intentionally disturbing and triggering.
As the film puts it, silence is not an option, but it also offers no easy answers or neat resolutions.
तपना जरूरी है
पकने के लिए ...
मुझे भी ,,,सहनी,,, पड़ेगी,,, मुख़ालिफ़त,,, अपनी
Mujhe bhi... sahni... padegi... mukhalifat... apni Jo... khul gayi... kabhi... mujh par... munafiqat... apni (Mukhalifat = Virodh | Munafiqat = Kapat)
Main... khud se... mil ke... kabhi... saaf saaf... keh dunga Mujhe... pasand nahi... hai... mudakhalat... apni (Mudakhalat = Dakhal andazi)
Main... sharmsaar hua... apne... aap se... phir... bhi Qubool... ki... hi... nahi... maine... maazarat... apni (Maazarat = Maafi)
Zamaane se... toh... mera... kuch gila... nahi banta Ki... mujh se... mera... ta'alluq... tha... marfat apni (Marfat = Dwara/Medium)
Khabar nahi... abhi... duniya ko... mere... saanehe... ki So... apne... aap se... karta hoon... taaziyat apni (Saanehe = Shokpurn ghatna | Taaziyat = Condolence)
Anjum Saleemi
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I, too, shall have to endure opposition to myself, If ever my own hypocrisy is revealed to me.
Meeting myself one day, I shall say it clearly: I do not appreciate your interference in my life.
I was left ashamed before my own soul, yet even then, I did not offer—nor accept—my own apology.
I have no grounds for a complaint against the world, For my relationship with myself was through my own medium.
The world is not yet aware of the tragedy I've endured, And so, I offer condolences only to myself.
Released on January 30, 2026, Mardaani 3 has garnered mixed-to-positive reviews, currently holding an average critic rating of 3.5/5 stars. While Rani Mukerji’s performance is universally hailed as a powerhouse "star turn," the film’s narrative has faced some criticism for falling into predictable patterns in its second half.
The Positives: Critics from NDTV and Bollywood Hungama have praised Rani Mukerji for her "ferocious and emotionally razor-sharp" portrayal of Shivani Shivaji Roy. The first half is widely described as a taut, gripping thriller that successfully tackles the dark world of the beggar mafia and child trafficking.
The Critiques: Some reviews, including those from The Hindu and The Indian Express, noted that the film "loses steam" after the interval. Critics pointed out that the plot shifts into a more generic "massy" grammar, with a late-stage foreign conspiracy angle that felt less grounded than the franchise's previous entries.
Comparison: Many fans have compared the film's tone to Delhi Crime, noting its grim and realistic atmosphere, though some felt the villain in this installment (Amma, played by Mallika Prasad) didn't receive as much development as the antagonists in the first two films.
| Publication | Rating | Key Takeaway |
| Bollywood Hungama | 3.5/5 | A powerful, hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the franchise. |
| NDTV | 3.5/5 | One of the finest performances in Rani Mukerji’s 30-year career. |
| Hindustan Times | 3/5 | Rani keeps you seated, but the thriller isn't the sharpest in the series. |
| The Indian Express | 2/5 | Criticized for over-writing and predictable plot-points. |
| IMDb (User) | 7.6/10 | Generally well-received by audiences for its realistic sets and tension. |
As of February 17, 2026, the film is performing steadily:
India Net Collection: ~₹44.75 crore.
Worldwide Gross: Over ₹64 crore.
Status: It has already crossed the lifetime collection of the original Mardaani and is expected to hit the ₹50 crore mark in India soon.
The 2024 film "O Romeo" is a modern-day romantic drama that attempts to breathe new life into the classic "star-crossed lovers" trope. While it borrows its thematic DNA from Shakespeare, it swaps the balcony for the digital age, focusing on the complexities of love in a world of social media and cultural expectations.
Here is a breakdown of the film:
The story follows Romeo, a charming but somewhat disillusioned young man, and his counterpart, who comes from a vastly different socio-economic background. Unlike the original tragedy, this film focuses more on the internal conflicts of the characters—dealing with parental pressure, career ambitions, and the "noise" of modern dating.
The Lead Pair: The chemistry between the leads is the film's strongest asset. They manage to make the instant-connection trope feel earned rather than forced.
Supporting Cast: The actors playing the parents provide a grounded, sometimes frustratingly realistic portrayal of traditional values clashing with modern desires.
The director opts for a vibrant, almost "dream-like" color palette during the romantic sequences, which contrasts sharply with the muted, sterile tones of their professional lives.
Pacing: The first half is a breezy romantic comedy.
Tone Shift: The second half takes a sharper, more dramatic turn as the consequences of their choices catch up to them.
The Good:
Fresh take on a very old story.
Strong soundtrack that complements the emotional beats.
Relatable dialogue that doesn't feel overly poetic or theatrical.
The Not-So-Good:
Some subplots involving side characters feel underdeveloped.
The ending has received mixed reactions; some find it poignant, while others feel it’s a bit abrupt.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 It’s a solid watch if you enjoy contemporary romances that aren't afraid to get a little messy. It’s less about "death by poison" and more about the "death of expectations."
