Usually, a screenplay begins with an idea and some discipline. Anurag Kashyap, however, seems to begin with a blindfold, a map of India, and a determination to excavate the most lyrical obscenities from whichever district fate selects. Only after locking in the gaalis and quirky regional beats does he seem to bother with plot (and it works, mostly).

‘Nishaanchi’ bears the stamp of the Kashyap method. Set in 2006 Kanpur, the film sways with the swagger of the early 2010s’ cinema. The frames hold a second longer than they should, as if announcing, “Bollywood is back” — but with all its tired habits.

At the centre are twins Bablu and Dablu (Aaishvary Thackeray, double role), born to shooter-turned-damsel Manjari (Monika Panwar) and wrestler Jabardast (Vineet Kumar Singh). The scheming Ambik

See Full Page