What to Watch This Week: ‘Assi’, ‘Kennedy’, and ‘Do Deewane Sheher Mein’

This week has something for everyone—whether it's romance, action, comedy, sci-fi, or drama. We have Assi, a deeply unsettling courtroom drama starring Taapsee Pannu and Kani Kusruti, and Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy, a gritty neo-noir crime-thriller, finally gets its India release. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Do Deewane Sheher Mein, an endearing romance drama that explores the peculiarities of modern love in urban India. Finally, a special mention for family entertainers releasing this week: GOAT, Hey Balwanth, and Lucky the Superstar.

Theatrical Releases This Week

Hindi
Assi

Anubhav Sinha’s hard-hitting legal drama pierces through the apathy and patriarchy within India’s legal infrastructure. The film follows the case of a teacher, played by Kani Kusruti, who is abducted and gang-raped, and her fight for justice with the help of her lawyer, played by Taapsee Pannu. Beyond the courtroom, the story reveals how survivors are let down by the system, their families, and their communities at every step—an unsettling, but important watch.  

Do Deewane Sheher Mein

This Siddhant Chaturvedi-Mrunal Thakur starrer is a romantic drama that explores the lives of two ‘awkward’ millennials who cross paths through an arranged marriage set-up. Set against the backdrop of the big city, the film follows the two as they struggle with their own internal turmoil, while simultaneously navigating an imperfect, confusing dynamic. Hailed as a refreshing, heartwarming romance, this film keeps the Valentine’s Day celebrations going.

Kannada
Second Case of Seetharam

Five years after Seetharam Benoy Case No. 18 (2021), its sequel follows cop Seetharam, played by Vijay Raghavendra, navigating yet another gruesome case. This time, it’s a series of murders that just won’t stop, casting doubt on Seetharam’s competence as a police officer. The film offers a deeper exploration of his character, as he works against the clock to hunt down the culprit.

Telugu
Hey Balwanth

Formerly titled Hey Bhagawan, this Telugu comedy starring Suhas is set to be an ‘out-and-out entertainer’. Directed by Gopi Atchara, the film follows a family navigating their mysterious business (the nature of which has been kept deliberately under wraps throughout the film’s promotional cycle), which leads to a comedy of errors. Despite being made on a relatively low budget, the film is predicted to be a hit among audiences.

English
GOAT

GOAT is an animated sports comedy with heart. With a star-studded cast, (with the likes of Stephen Curry, who is debuting, Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson, Nicola Coughlan, and David Harbour), this underdog story follows a young goat with big dreams of being a ‘roarball’ (their version of basketball) champion. This one’s set to be a fun, lighthearted watch for all ages.

How to Make a Killing

This A24 dark comedy-thriller is a satirical reimagining of the 1949 British film, Kind Hearts and Coronets. The story follows a blue-collar underdog (played by Glen Powell), who discovers that he is the rightful heir to a billionaire family’s inheritance. Following the death of his mother, he decides to take down everyone standing in the way of his fortune.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die

Directed by Gore Verbinski, (known for The Ring (2002), the first three Pirates of the Caribbean instalments, and Rango (2011)), this sci-fi action-comedy begins with a mysterious, eccentric ‘Man From the Future’ who recruits a rag-tag group of customers from a diner, to save the world from a rogue artificial intelligence.

OTT Releases This Week

Hindi
Kennedy

Anurag Kashyap’s gritty crime-thriller—which first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023—is finally getting its release in India, on Zee 5. The story follows ‘Kennedy’ (played by Rahul Bhat), a rogue ex-cop who is a mild-mannered chauffeur by day, and a killer-for-hire by night. Hailed as a return to form for Kashyap, this film might be best-watched under the cover of darkness.

Tamil
Lucky the Superstar

Starring G.V. Prakash Kumar and Anaswara Rajan, this feel-good family entertainer follows the adventures of a stray puppy trying to find her way home. Along the way, she brings a family together, and causes chaos wherever she goes.