Nishaanchi 2 (2025) [Movie Review] — A Gritty Sequel That’s Flawed but Compelling

Anurag Kashyap’s Nishaanchi 2 shifts gears from his usual hard-edged noir to a more emotionally driven crime drama. The film revisits characters we know, relocates the action from Kanpur to Lucknow, and leans into family ties, local texture, and old-school revenge mechanics. It’s a watchable piece of commercial cinema with occasional flashes of the director’s signature rawness — even if the whole never quite coalesces into something greater than the sum of its parts.

Story — Redemption, rivalry and a climax that undercuts itself

The plot follows Babloo, freshly out of prison after ten years, returning to find his world changed: Rinki and Dabloo are in love, trying to build a life. Babloo’s attempt at a fresh start collides with political skulduggery when Ambika Prasad, now a minister, ropes him into a hit job to save his own skin. The beats — family secrets, a murdered gangster, political expediency — are familiar and serviceable, but the pacing is uneven. The film invests a long time in set-up and character beats only to deliver a finale that feels oddly muted, as if its emotional weight had been misplaced earlier. At nearly two-and-a-half hours, the narrative could have benefited from tighter trimming; a leaner cut would have made the payoffs land harder.

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Performances — A standout newcomer and dependable scene-stealers

Aaishvary Thackeray is the film’s revelation. He nails the polarity between Dabloo’s steady restraint and Babloo’s simmering volatility, showing a command of dialect, physicality, and micro-expressions that suggest a star in the making. Vedika Pinto grows into her role, offering a warm, believable Rinki who finally gets enough space to breathe. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, as the slippery cop Kamal Ajeeb, lifts scenes with his effortless intensity. Kumud Mishra’s Ambika Prasad is written as a major force but is underused here; Monica Panwar, meanwhile, gives Manjari a sharp, confident edge. Ensemble chemistry holds the film together even when the script wavers.

Direction & Screenplay — Kashyap’s softer touch carries risks

Kashyap and co-writers Ranjan Chandel and Prasoon Mishra aim for a balance between intimacy and scale. The film’s dialogues and regional cadence root it in place, and Kashyap’s textured worldbuilding is present throughout. Yet the screenplay often dithers between intimate family drama and larger political machination without fully committing to either. There are moments of genuine insight into loyalty and power, but structural choices — especially the oddly placed climax developments — dilute the film’s momentum.

Technicals — Atmosphere, music and the feel of Lucknow

The movie benefits from production that keeps things grounded: the locales, language and rhythms of daily life feel authentic. The cinematography captures the city’s grit and the characters’ claustrophobic choices, while the sound design and score do the steady work of underscoring tension without ever becoming intrusive. A few sequences — a music-video audition, late-night confrontations — are staged with a pulse that reminds you why Kashyap’s films, even when imperfect, are hard to turn away from.

Also Read: Nishaanchi (2025) [Film Review]: Anurag Kashyap’s Dark, Detailed Return to Crime Territory

Verdict — Worth watching for the acting and texture, but not without reservations

Nishaanchi 2 is not a return-to-form masterpiece, nor is it a failure. It’s an uneven, often engaging sequel anchored by breakthrough work from Aaishvary Thackeray and a strong supporting cast. Fans of Kashyap who appreciate character-driven crime dramas will find plenty to enjoy: the local flavour, the offbeat characters, and moments of genuine tension. Casual viewers may come away wishing the story had been sharper and shorter. There’s a solid film buried here — one that occasionally dazzles, more often lingers — and ultimately settles into being a middling but memorable entry in Kashyap’s filmography.

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Overall Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)