Kolkata witnessed the premiere of ‘Assi’, a hard-hitting film by acclaimed director Anubhav Sinha that shines a spotlight on the alarming rise in crimes against women. Actress Srilekha Mitra, who attended the event, described the movie not just as entertainment but as a mirror to society’s darkest truths.
Mitra emphasized that ‘Assi’ is rooted in stark social realities. The film’s title derives from a chilling statistic: on the day the story’s protagonist suffers brutality, 80 other girls face similar fates. ‘If 80 incidents occur in one day, imagine the annual toll,’ she questioned, urging viewers to confront the scale of the problem.
The film probes deeper, challenging the notion of societal progress. Is India moving forward, stagnating, or regressing? Mitra highlighted how ‘Assi’ interrogates the systemic failures that allow such atrocities to persist. ‘Where did this begin, where will it end, and what’s happening in between?’ she asked, calling it a thought-provoking critique of justice mechanisms.
Drawing parallels to global scandals, Mitra referenced the recently unsealed Epstein files, which exposed powerful figures involved in exploitation. ‘Power and money breed evil,’ she noted, linking it to the film’s narrative. Even in India, professionals like doctors and engineers stand in queues, symbolizing a nation of potential crippled by despair.
‘We boast of a great country and state, yet we’re forced to question our trajectory,’ Mitra reflected. ‘Assi’ isn’t merely a film; it’s a call to action, demanding introspection and reform before it’s too late.