**Nishaanchi Review**
**Director:** Anurag Kashyap
**Cast:** Aaishvary Thackeray, Monika Panwar, Vedika Pinto
**Where to watch:** In theatres
**Ratings:** ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
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Whenever you hear the name Anurag Kashyap, the first thing that comes to mind is the *Gangs of Wasseypur* franchise. He undoubtedly revived the desi gangster drama genre in Bollywood, but not many filmmakers have since been able to explore this genre with the same finesse. Now, Kashyap is back with another desi gangster drama titled *Nishaanchi*. The trailer and the film’s songs had grabbed our attention — so is *Nishaanchi* as compelling as the *Gangs of Wasseypur* franchise? Read on to find out.
### Plot Overview
The movie revolves around twin brothers Babloo and Dabloo, both played by Aaishvary Thackeray. Along with Rinku (Vedika Pinto), they plan to rob a bank. However, during the robbery, the police arrive. While Dabloo and Rinku manage to escape, Babloo is arrested. Babloo soon realizes that Ambika (Kumud Mishra) is behind his arrest. But why does Ambika want Babloo in jail? What prompts Babloo, Dabloo, and Rinku to form a gang? The film answers these questions as the story progresses — but it also leaves us with many more questions.
### Direction and Writing
*Nishaanchi* is written by Anurag Kashyap, Ranjan Chandel, and Prasoon Mishra, with Kashyap himself directing it. The film starts on an interesting note and keeps the viewers hooked initially. However, after about 30 minutes, the narrative becomes a bit uneven. While certain scenes and dialogues are whistle-worthy and occasionally humorous, others tend to bore.
The second half of the film improves significantly and manages to keep us engaged. Unfortunately, the abrupt ending is a letdown. Running for 2 hours and 56 minutes, the film is lengthy — this excessive runtime is one of its biggest drawbacks. Several sequences feel overly long and repetitive, and the film could have easily been trimmed by 15 to 20 minutes.
To add to the frustration, *Nishaanchi* ends abruptly with a slate stating “End of Part 1.” If a part two is indeed planned, the makers should have edited this installment to be tighter and more concise.
### Nishaanchi Review – Actors’ Performance
Where *Nishaanchi* truly shines is in its acting department. Aaishvary Thackeray makes a fantastic debut. From perfecting the UP accent to capturing the mannerisms of a local boy, he nails it all effortlessly. Playing a double role, he delivers a performance that feels natural and confident despite being his first film.
Vedika Pinto as Rinku also leaves a strong impression, and Vineet Kumar Singh once again impresses with his top-class acting. Kumud Mishra and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub perform well in their respective roles.
However, the show stealer here is Monika Panwar. Playing Babloo and Dabloo’s mother, every scene featuring Monika is captivating. She has been given the best-written role in the film, and she delivers it with full justice. We hope the Indian film industry continues to offer her such substantial roles in the future.
### Nishaanchi Review – Music
The songs in *Nishaanchi* are enjoyable and provide good entertainment during the film. However, none of the tracks possess the longevity factor. Once the movie is over, the songs tend to fade from memory quickly.
### FPJ Verdict
Overall, Anurag Kashyap’s *Nishaanchi* is a decent addition to the desi gangster drama genre. It has strong performances and an engaging second half, but the lengthy runtime and abrupt ending work against it.
P.S. We would have rated this film 2.5 stars, but an extra half star goes to Aaishvary Thackeray and Monika Panwar for their fantastic performances.
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**Rating:** ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/nishaanchi-review-anurag-kashyaps-film-is-full-on-desi-but-very-long-actors-take-the-movie-a-notch-higher
