Anubhav Sinha's 'Assi' Confronts India's Disturbing Sexual Violence Statistics
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha delivers a sobering reality check with his upcoming courtroom thriller "Assi", revealing that 80 cases of sexual violence against women are reported daily in India. In a powerful statement, Sinha emphasizes that this alarming figure represents just the tip of the iceberg, with countless incidents remaining unreported.
"A Woman Would Already Be Exploited"
"By the time you and I finish talking about it, a woman would have already been exploited somewhere in the country," Sinha told PTI in an exclusive interview. The director calculated that a sexual violence incident occurs every 18 to 20 minutes in India, making the reported 80 daily cases particularly shocking.
The film's title "Assi" (meaning 80 in Hindi) directly references this daily statistic. Sinha stresses that while the reported numbers are disturbing enough, they don't account for the hidden cases that never reach authorities or public consciousness.
Star-Studded Cast and Release Details
The courtroom thriller features an impressive ensemble cast including:
- Taapsee Pannu
- Manoj Pahwa
- Kumud Mishra
- Kani Kusruti
- Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub
- Supriya Pathak
- Revathi
- Naseeruddin Shah
The film is scheduled for theatrical release on February 20, positioning it as part of what Sinha calls "the month of women" in Indian cinema, alongside Rani Mukerji's "Mardaani 3."
From Personal Conflict to Cinematic Exploration
Sinha's film continues his tradition of tackling contemporary social issues through cinema, following critically acclaimed works like "Mulk" (2018), "Article 15" (2019), "Thappad" (2020), and "Bheed" (2023).
"Assi" reunites Sinha with Taapsee Pannu (who starred in "Mulk" and "Thappad") and Gaurav Solanki (writer of "Article 15"). The project emerged from Sinha's personal struggle to understand why sexual violence continues to plague Indian society.
"I was going through this internal conflict and kept thinking 'What can I do?'" Sinha revealed. "Why are we not doing enough? Is the police not doing anything? What about the judiciary?"
The director eventually realized that "the problem is something else" beyond simply blaming institutions. "It is easy to blame the police and judiciary, but difficult to blame yourself," he admitted, describing how the film was written during his period of "antardwand" (inner conflict).
Deep Research and Psychological Insights
To prepare for the film, Sinha immersed himself in research, spending considerable time reading accounts from survivors of sexual violence. One particularly disturbing revelation came from a woman who described looking in the mirror but feeling she was seeing someone else.
"Even if there is a support system from all sides, the psychological impact is devastating," Sinha explained. "We as men just cannot fathom this."
The filmmaker also studied psychological analyses of perpetrators, asking fundamental questions: "Who are the people who do this? Where do they get the strength to do this?" His research uncovered numerous shocking details that informed the film's narrative.
Balancing Message with Entertainment
While tackling this serious subject, Sinha deliberately crafted "Assi" as a fast-moving thriller to engage audiences while delivering its crucial message. "It certainly opens your eyes," he promised about the film's impact.
When questioned about the popularity of violent male heroes in patriarchal cinema, Sinha acknowledged this as a longstanding tradition in Hindi films. "We are a patriarchal society, and we like heroes," he noted, while pointing to positive changes: "The good news is that now, women's films are being made, and they are being successful."
Connecting with India Through Extensive Travel
In preparation for his films and to reconnect with the country he portrays on screen, Sinha has embarked on an extensive travel journey across northern India over the past several months. He has visited approximately 40 cities including:
- Ranchi
- Raipur
- Ludhiana
- Jalandhar
- Jaipur
- Amritsar
- Mohali
- Jamshedpur
- Ahmedabad
- Baroda
"The world is a book of stories. Every person is a story," Sinha reflected on his travels. "I meet 50 to 100 people every day. And, obviously, I hear about 100 stories every day. So, they will get stored somewhere in my subconscious and get recycled."
The director's decision to travel extensively stemmed from feeling disconnected from the people of India. "Over time, I started feeling that my circle of people had grown smaller and I was cut off from the people of the land," he confessed. "You have to get to know the country that you make films about."
Future Projects and Current Focus
Despite his demanding travel schedule, which involves spending almost seven hours daily in the car, Sinha is actively developing new projects. He revealed working on four scripts, with two already written and three in collaboration with writer Gaurav Solanki.
However, his immediate focus remains on "Assi" and its important message about confronting India's sexual violence crisis. The film represents Sinha's continued commitment to using cinema as a tool for social examination and change.
