Nishaanchi Movie Review: Anurag Kashyap Serves Wild Chaotic Tedhi Kheer & I Genuinuely Feel ‘Inhe Samajhne Se Aasan Hai Khusro, Ghalib, Meer!’
Star Cast: Aaishvary Thackeray, Vedika Pinto, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Monika Panwar, Vineet Kumar Singh and others
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Language: Hindi
Available On: Theatrical Release
Runtime: 2 Hours 56 Minutes
Genre: Crime, Drama, Dark Comedy
Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Introduction
When you hear the name Anurag Kashyap, one thing instantly comes to mind — madness. That wild, unpredictable storytelling, filled with dark humour, rustic music, and unapologetically real characters. He doesn’t make movies for everyone, and he knows it.
With Nishaanchi, Kashyap returns to the big screen after quite a while, promising yet another layered, gritty, and chaotic experience — the kind of cinema that divides audiences.
But the question is — does Nishaanchi live up to the legendary filmmaker’s own hype, especially after he said, “Watch this, you’ll forget Gangs of Wasseypur”?
Let’s find out if Nishaanchi is truly the comeback Kashyap promised, or just another overcooked bowl of cinematic kheer.
Story Overview
Nishaanchi begins with a bang — quite literally. Within the first two minutes, you’re thrown straight into Kashyap’s world of chaos, guns, betrayals, and music that bleeds through every frame. The introduction feels like a tribute to Wasseypur, complete with gritty dialogues, earthy characters, and that signature folk fusion.
But as the story unfolds, you realize this isn’t just one story — it’s a story within a story within another story.
Kashyap experiments with a non-linear narrative where timelines overlap, perspectives shift, and sometimes, you don’t know who’s narrating whose truth.
The central plot loosely revolves around a young man (Aaishvary Thackeray) who gets involved in a chain of revenge, power, and crime in the small towns of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Surrounding him are characters with twisted motives — a journalist chasing the truth (Vedika Pinto), a political leader (Kumud Mishra), and a fixer (Vineet Kumar Singh), all connected by a single trigger — a crime that changes everything.
As the film moves ahead, you realize Nishaanchi isn’t just a crime story — it’s a philosophical look at violence, greed, and destiny.
But the problem? Kashyap keeps twisting the narrative so much that by the third hour, the audience feels completely lost.
Direction: Anurag Kashyap Being Anurag Kashyap
Let’s be honest — no one makes movies like Anurag Kashyap. His films aren’t “watched”; they’re “experienced.”
Every frame screams authenticity. The streets feel real, the characters speak like real people, and the music becomes the soul of the story.
In Nishaanchi, Kashyap once again blends folk tunes, political undertones, and unfiltered realism. The way he uses silence before violence, or adds music after chaos, is pure genius.
But here’s the problem — Kashyap forgets the audience’s patience.
At nearly 3 hours long, Nishaanchi feels like a director’s indulgence. It’s raw, chaotic, unfiltered — but also exhausting.
Yes, there are moments of brilliance. Certain scenes are so well-written and performed that they remind you why Kashyap is considered one of the most fearless storytellers in Indian cinema.
But the overall structure feels overstuffed. You can’t digest all that’s happening at once.
If only he had trimmed 40 minutes from the runtime, Nishaanchi could’ve been sharp, impactful, and iconic.
Instead, it becomes a test of patience for even his die-hard fans.
Performances
Aaishvary Thackeray
Making his debut under a director like Kashyap is no easy task, but Aaishvary surprises. He fits into Kashyap’s gritty world without overacting. There’s sincerity in his eyes and a certain innocence in his portrayal of a man trapped in chaos.
He’s not perfect, but for a debut performance, he’s confident and watchable.
Vedika Pinto
Vedika’s performance is subtle yet strong. She doesn’t have a typical “Bollywood heroine” arc, but she makes her presence felt. Her emotional graph in the second half adds depth to the story.
Vineet Kumar Singh & Kumud Mishra
These two are absolute gems. Vineet once again proves his mastery in intense roles. His screen presence adds authenticity and power to every scene he’s in.
Kumud Mishra, as always, is phenomenal. His political undertones, dialogues, and emotional restraint elevate the screenplay.
Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub & Monika Panwar
Zeeshan Ayyub’s role might be short, but he brings fire and conviction to every line. Monika Panwar, known for her Jamtara roots, plays her role with ease, contributing to the film’s grounded realism.
Writing & Screenplay
The writing is ambitious — maybe too ambitious.
It’s layered, poetic, and political — all at once. Kashyap clearly wants to say something deep about society, crime, and corruption, but the screenplay loses focus midway.
There are dialogues that shine through, like:
“Nishaan kabhi sirf bandook pe nahi hota, insaan ke dil pe bhi lagta hai.”
“Jo sach likhne nikla tha, woh jhoot bechne laga — aur duniya ne usse hero bana diya.”
But there are also stretches where the film drowns in its own complexity.
At times, you’re not sure what’s happening, and that’s not because it’s deep — it’s just too much happening at once.
The pacing, especially after the second hour, becomes sluggish. And when the screen flashes “End of Part One”, you almost sigh in disbelief. After three hours of narrative chaos, the promise of a sequel feels like an uninvited burden.
Cinematography & Music
Cinematography by Sylvester Fonseca captures the rustic aesthetic perfectly. The camera work is immersive — handheld shots, raw lighting, and gritty frames.
The dusty lanes, dim rooms, and wide landscape shots give it a documentary-style realism.
However, the music — Kashyap’s usual strong suit — slightly disappoints.
While there are glimpses of brilliance, like the folk-infused background in a revenge scene, or the slow dhol beats before a gunshot, the overall soundtrack doesn’t leave a lasting impression like Wasseypur or Gulaal.
Some Bhojpuri and folk inserts feel unnecessary, adding more clutter than emotion.
Editing
If there’s one major flaw, it’s the editing.
The movie’s length — 2 hours 56 minutes — is its biggest enemy. Scenes drag longer than needed, especially in the second half.
Tightening the narrative could’ve turned Nishaanchi from a chaotic mess into a modern masterpiece.
Themes & Symbolism
Kashyap explores many themes here — revenge, identity, corruption, media manipulation, and power politics.
But the film’s core theme seems to be the cycle of violence — how every act of revenge only breeds more destruction.
He also plays with symbolism — guns, blood stains, radio announcements, and even folk songs — all representing how stories get distorted by the storyteller.
At times, the film feels like a dark poem — and at others, like an unsolved riddle.
What Works (Pros)
✅ Strong performances by Vineet Kumar Singh, Kumud Mishra & newcomers
✅ Visually stunning and authentically raw cinematography
✅ Some brilliantly written scenes and dialogues
✅ Classic Anurag Kashyap moments — chaotic, unpredictable, fearless
✅ Themes that question power, greed, and justice
What Doesn’t Work (Cons)
❌ Overlong runtime (3 hours feels endless)
❌ Over-complicated narrative with too many subplots
❌ Weak background score compared to Kashyap’s earlier works
❌ Self-indulgent direction — feels like Kashyap made it for himself, not the audience
❌ Unnecessary “Part One” ending that kills satisfaction
Final Verdict
Nishaanchi is not for everyone — not even for every Kashyap fan.
It’s bold, experimental, and beautifully chaotic in parts — but it’s also exhausting, inconsistent, and indulgent.
It’s the kind of movie that will divide audiences. Some will call it art; others will call it a headache. And honestly, both won’t be wrong.
If you love Kashyap’s madness and are ready for a three-hour journey that’s part brilliance, part boredom, go for it.
But if you want something tighter and more emotionally rewarding, rewatch Gangs of Wasseypur — that’s still gold.
Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Verdict: Ambitious but overcooked. A wild experiment that needed discipline.
