Nishaanchi: Anurag Kashyap’s Gritty Crime Saga, OTT Release, and The Double Role Debut That’s Shaking Up Bollywood
The Return of the Marksman: Decoding Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Nishaanchi’
Anurag Kashyap, a director synonymous with raw, unflinching, and intensely personal storytelling, made a highly anticipated return to the gangster drama genre with the 2025 film, Nishaanchi. The title itself, a Hindi/Persian word meaning ‘marksman’ or ‘shooter,’ perfectly encapsulates the film’s core: a narrative centered on those who take aim—literally and metaphorically—at their targets, and the devastating fallout of their choices. Released theatrically in September 2025 and later arriving on OTT platforms, Nishaanchi became an instant subject of critical debate, drawing inevitable comparisons to the director’s iconic work, Gangs of Wasseypur.
This epic saga, set in the rustic, crime-ridden landscape of the Hindi heartland, specifically Kanpur, is a potent cocktail of sibling rivalry, criminal ambition, and a dark exploration of fate. It marks a significant moment in Indian cinema, introducing a fresh face, Aaishvary Thackeray, in a demanding dual role, and reasserting Kashyap’s knack for turning the mundane and the brutal into compelling cinematic art.
Plot: A Tale of Two Brothers and a Failed Heist
The central premise of Nishaanchi revolves around twin brothers, Babloo and Dabloo (both played by Aaishvary Thackeray), who are thrust into the world of crime. The film is set across different timelines, primarily centered on events in Kanpur around 2006. The inciting incident is a shoddily planned bank robbery that goes kaput, leaving a profound and irreversible split in the twins’ lives.
Babloo, the more swaggering, impulsive, and crime-committed brother, finds himself in jail. His more docile and less assertive twin, Dabloo, is left to navigate the difficult world outside with their long-suffering mother, Manjari (Monika Panwar), and Babloo’s girlfriend, Rinku (Vedika Pinto). The subsequent narrative unfolds as a complex web of deceit, ambition, and a slow, simmering revenge, where Dabloo begins to emerge from his brother’s shadow and the dynamics between all the characters are fundamentally altered.
The story is deeply rooted in the family’s past, revealing a flashback about their father, Jabardast Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh), a gifted wrestler, whose tragic death sets the stage for the family’s descent into a life marred by the machinations of the manipulative local strongman and politician-criminal, Ambika Prasad (Kumud Mishra). It is Ambika Prasad who takes Babloo under his wing, leading him down the wrong path, a trajectory Manjari desperately tries to prevent, showcasing the film’s underlying critique of the politician-criminal nexus and entrenched patriarchy in the heartland.
The ‘Kashyap’ Signature: Chaos, Wit, and a Retro Homage
Nishaanchi is undeniably a classic Anurag Kashyap film, brimming with his signature style. Critics noted that the movie is a ‘delightful melange of brutality and tenderness,’ full of raw action, earthy humor, and gnarled emotions that often culminate in full-blown violence.
The Gangs of Wasseypur Echo
Many reviews have highlighted the similarities between Nishaanchi and Kashyap’s earlier work, particularly Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW). The director himself admitted that the process of working on Nishaanchi felt like a return to his original storytelling roots. While the film has been praised for its rustic set-up, desi dialogues, and non-linear storytelling, some critics felt it was a ‘pale shadow’ of the multi-generational saga of GOW, describing it as an attempt to ‘cut down GOW into fragments and then casually stitch them into a fresh screenplay.’
- Setting and Milieu: The film is intensely rooted in Uttar Pradesh, utilizing the local flavor, idioms, and milieu to create real, complex characters.
- Music and Tone: It features a quirky, jaunty medley of songs that serve as conduits for shifts in mood and emotional emphasis, a technique reminiscent of GOW. The film even pays a ‘breezy, breathless homage to 1980s and 1990s Bollywood,’ subverting popular Bollywood tropes and titles in its dialogues.
- Unflinching Realism: The cinematographer, Sylvester Fonseca, captures the cramped spaces, tight spots, and raw energy of the characters battling for survival and supremacy in a world that is uncompromisingly dark.
Stellar Performances and a Dual Role Debut
To make a film focused on identical twins work, the lead performance is crucial, and debutant Aaishvary Thackeray, in his first role, was a significant talking point. He portrays both Babloo and Dabloo, managing to deliver distinct personalities with ‘complete conviction,’ surprising critics who expected only ‘sheer novelty.’ Babloo is the cocky, criminal element, while Dabloo is the docile, conflicted brother. The conflict sparked by Babloo’s passionate love for Rinku and Dabloo’s subsequent entry into the scene drives the core drama.
The film’s ensemble cast was universally praised for lifting the material, even when the narrative was deemed uneven:
- Monika Panwar as Manjari: Panwar received particular acclaim for her portrayal of the matriarch. Her ‘dry, acrid and at times fierce’ performance as the long-suffering but defiant wife and mother stood out, even being noted for making the character seem more substantial than written. She is a woman who is ‘no Nirupa Roy,’ battling the advances of Ambika Prasad while trying to keep her sons from the life of crime.
- Kumud Mishra as Ambika Prasad: Mishra was lauded as a delight in his role as the conniving mentor who leads Babloo astray.
- Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub: As the ‘grubby-handed police inspector Kamal Ajeeb,’ Ayyub delivered a first-rate performance in his brief, impactful scenes.
Critical Reception and Box Office Journey
Nishaanchi premiered in theaters on September 19, 2025, to a generally positive, though polarized, critical response.
- Praised for: The film was cited as a ‘gritty, engaging ride’ that reaffirms Kashyap’s ability to blend crime, drama, and dark humor. Reviewers highlighted its energy, fast-paced screenplay, and unpredictable twists.
- Criticized for: Some reviews suggested the film was conventional and predictable in its tale of sibling rivalry and revenge. While the sparks of brilliance were noted, a few critics felt ‘Part 1 barely scratches its full potential’ and that large chunks of the build-up felt ‘pointless’ or ‘exposition-heavy.’
While the film did not perform spectacularly well in its theatrical run, its arrival on digital platforms was highly anticipated by a broader audience, which often finds Kashyap’s cinema more suited to the streaming environment.
The Latest News: OTT Streaming and The Twist
The most significant recent development surrounding Nishaanchi is its digital release. On November 2, 2025, the crime drama began streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
However, the OTT release came with a twist that disappointed some viewers: the film was initially available for rent at a price, rather than being immediately accessible to all Prime subscribers for free. With a runtime of nearly three hours (177 minutes), the movie is expected to follow the typical streaming trajectory: a rental period followed by free access for all subscribers, a path that is finding new audiences for the film who enjoy ‘crime-laden stories of emotion’ and Kashyap’s signature raw, emotional style.
As Nishaanchi continues its journey from the big screen to the small, it solidifies its place as a significant 2025 release. It is more than just a crime film; it is a meditation on morality, survival, and the inescapable bonds of family, all viewed through the unflinching lens of one of India’s most distinctive filmmakers. It leaves audiences waiting for the promised ‘Part 2’ to see the ultimate fate of the Babloo and Dabloo, the marksmen caught in the crosshairs of their own destiny.
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