Assi - Umbrella Policy

Assi

2026, Hindi

Genre: Courtroom Drama 

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Stars: Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Satyajit Sharma

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐⭐

In a society  where men revere even money as a goddess, one can only wonder with disdain at their treatment of women. 

Parima is the next victim in what seems like a string of films created in light of the Nirbhaya Act. But what makes this movie stand out is its thorough and brutally harsh presentation of how this heinous crime affects the victim and those who care for her, especially, and not by coincidence, the children. 

The acting in moments of seeing the once innocent having to grow up too fast brings visceral guilt to the characters as well as the audience. 

But, these moments need to be parred by courtroom proceeding, and it is here that the story becomes lopsided. Both Mr. Sharma and Ms. Taapsee go overboard with their courtroom rhetoric, and the concerned father is transformed into a narcissistic villain. Villainous deeds done by the mysterious Umbrella Man,  even for poetic justice, become red herrings to the greater outcome of the trial. 

It is the brilliant acting of Ms. Kani, Ms. Revathy, and newcomer Mr. Jaiswal that brings what would otherwise been utter failure up a notch or two. Their willingness to portray genuine human beings turns a familiar tale into a memorable one.