‘Nishaanchi’ Movie Review: Bang On Target

Nishaanchi Cast/Actors: Aaishvary Thackeray, Monika Panwar, Vedika Pinto, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Piyush Mishra, Vineet Kumar Singh and Kumud Mishra

Nishaanchi Director: Anurag Kashyap

Nishaanchi Production House: Jar Pictures in association with Flip Films

Nishaanchi Movie Release Date: 19 September, 2025

Nishaanchi Movie Available On: Theatrical Release (likely to be released on Amazon Prime Video OTT Platform)

Nishaanchi Released/Available In Languages: Hindi

Nishaanchi Movie Runtime: 2h 57m

Nishaanchi Critic Movie Review:

A dozen years after Gangs of Wasseypur, Anurag Kashyap springs a surprise. A gangster film so engaging that despite juggling with different time zones requiring different looks and general chaos with daddies getting killed, there’s clarity in the characters, situations and stories. Along with co-writers Ranjan Chandel and Prasoon Mishra, Anurag threads them with professional efficiency into a neat narrative. Aided with some of the wackiest numbers and freshest, peppiest background scores heard in a long time. Musicians Manan Bhardwaj, Dhruv Ghanekar, Anurag Saikia, Aaishvary Thackeray, Nishikar Chhibber and Piyush Mishra may take a bow.

Early morning Kanpur in 2006.

A punctual “manager babu” buys his customary channa-poori at 7.30am. A guard outside a bank gets chatty with a customer who’s come in before opening hours.

Soon, abotched-up bank robbery.

A trio of robbers: twins Babloo alias Tony and Dabloo (both by Aaishvary Thackeray) and Tony’s girl Rinku (Vedika Pinto).

Inspector Kamal Ajmal (Piyush Mishra), a policeman who’s tracked the family right from the days of the twins’ daddy, wrestler Jabardast (Vineet Kumar Singh). Looming like a smiling menace is gangster Ambika Prasad (Kumud Mishra) who too has history with the family.

The twin’s feisty mother Manjari (Monika Panwar), a gold medallist in shooting back in her youth.

Respecting the audience to understand the flashbacks without spelling them out, the stories of Jabardast-Manjari and their twins spill out. They grow up, so identical, yet so dissimilar.

Several standout moments. A melee inside jail, a killing that’s well shot (camerawork: Sylvester Fonseca). Even song picturizations with Bhola Pehelwan (Rajesh Kumar) wagging his finger to the music and simultaneously carrying on an unspoken conversation (editing: Aarti Bajaj). Humour in the way film titles spill out with a reference to Raja Hindustani during an awkward kissing scene. Romance, the wrestler, soft as putty with his lady shooter wife. Unconventional, tender, tragic. Reality kicks – a young son telling his mother that her widow’s white is a constant reminder of their dead father. The making of a gangster. Youthful romance, music, dance. Deceit that’s peeled off with suddenness.

Anurag packs it all dexterously, taking his time to soak every character in the emotions that gritty action, romance and family evoke. By the time Rinku showers, fiercely throwing the water to wash off the accumulated grime of deception, you’re hooked. Ab kya?

Towards the end of a film that’s nearly three hours long, if you’re looking forward to what’s going to happen next, it’s a sure sign that the filmmaker has kept you engaged most of the way.

Add to it, Aaishvary Thackeray who does a double role like a pro, no sign of gaucheness anywhere in the newcomer. Monika Panwar is like Nargis in Mother India, spunky-soft, values intact. Vedika is pretty, vulnerable, sensuous, but individualistic in her own way. And the known names, Kumud Mishra, Vineet Kumar Singh, Piyush Mishra, all contributing as sturdy pillars.

But don’t ask me why the film begins with the azaan and temple bells. It has nothing to do with either faith.

Watch it or not: If I’m all set to watch Part 2, it says a lot about whether Part 1 is watchable or not.

Nishaanchi Movie Review Score Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (i.e. 3.5/5)

Nishaanchi Official Trailer: