Nishaanchi Movie Review : Anurag Kashyap’s return to familiar ground is both heavy and engaging

Story: Twins Babloo and Dabloo find their lives shattered after a failed bank heist, pulling them and Rinku into a world of family feuds, betrayal, and simmering revenge.

Review: Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Nishaanchi’ feels like a filmmaker returning to ground he knows well. The film clearly echoes ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ with its tale of revenge, family across generations, a large set of characters, and a rooted local setting. The film is set in Kanpur and dives into the world of family feuds, love, betrayal, and revenge. Kashyap creates a universe where every corner feels authentic, from the dialect to the characters’ body language. What makes ‘Nishaanchi’ interesting is not the story itself, which has familiar beats of crime and payback, but the way it is told—with detail, patience, and a certain dark humour. At the same time, the nearly three-hour runtime tests the viewer. There are stretches where nothing much happens, and the deliberate pace will not be for everyone. On top of that, the film is just the first part of a larger story, leaving the payoff for the sequel.

The plot follows twins Babloo and Dabloo (Aaishvary Thackeray). Babloo, brash and reckless, grows into a criminal, while Dabloo remains timid and dependent, living under his brother’s shadow. Their lives cross paths with Rinku (Vedika Pinto), a young woman who has lost her father and with him her stability. From being a kathak dancer, she is forced into performing at cheap local events, a fall that Kashyap portrays with sympathy but without melodrama. The film opens with a failed bank heist involving the three, after which Babloo lands in jail. The narrative then shifts to the past, introducing their parents, Manjiri (Monica Panwar) and Jabardast Singh (Vineet Singh). Both had dreams—Manjiri was a skilled shooter, Jabardast a wrestler—but politics and betrayals ended their hopes. Their so-called friend, Ambika Prasad (Kumud Mishra), emerges as the villain of the piece, setting up killings and eyeing property. When Babloo ends up working for him, matters turn personal as Babloo falls for Rinku, complicating loyalties further.

What keeps ‘Nishaanchi’ engaging is Kashyap’s knack for making the world of his story feel lived-in. Kanpur is not just a backdrop; it is part of the story. The local speech, the by-lanes, and the small-town politics all come together to form a believable environment. Even when the pace slackens, you feel absorbed because of how true the place feels. Kashyap also gives space to supporting characters, many of whom serve as comic relief. This helps balance the violence and tension with lighter moments. The film also spreads across years, moving between two generations, which makes it ambitious in scope. While comparisons to ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ are unavoidable because of the structure and setting, ‘Nishaanchi’ has its own flavour and does not feel like a repeat.

Performances are a strong point. Aaishvary Thackeray impresses in his debut by playing both twins with conviction. He manages to make Babloo and Dabloo feel completely different, which is not easy in a double role. Vedika Pinto as Rinku is equally strong, portraying both her struggles and her inner strength with conviction. She brings warmth to a character that could have easily been reduced to just a victim. Monica Panwar as Manjiri shows promise but feels miscast as the mother of grown sons. Kumud Mishra as Ambika Prasad brings quiet menace and will likely have more to do in the sequel. The supporting cast, even in small roles, makes an impression, which is one of Kashyap’s hallmarks.

‘Nishaanchi’ is not a perfect film, but it is a compelling one. The runtime is heavy, and the songs don’t stay with you, but the world Kashyap builds and the performances make it worth sitting through. It mixes crime, comedy, and family drama in a way that feels both old-school and new. More than anything, it shows Kashyap in control of his material again, something missing in his recent films. ‘Nishaanchi’ may only be Part One, but it leaves you curious about what comes next. If Kashyap keeps the momentum, Part Two could be even stronger.