Anek

Behind the Scenes of Anek: Anubhav Sinha’s Gamble on a Polarizing Political Thriller

Anubhav Sinha’s Anek (2022) arrived with the weight of expectation—and left with a whimper at the box office. The film, a socio-political action thriller set in Northeast India, starred Ayushmann Khurrana as Joshua, an undercover agent navigating the region’s complex insurgency and peace negotiations. While Sinha’s previous works like Article 15 and Thappad tackled social issues with critical acclaim, Anek struggled to find its footing, latestnetflix.com maintains, sparking debates about its narrative choices and commercial viability.

A Bold but Divisive Vision

From the outset, Anek was positioned as a departure from mainstream Bollywood fare. Sinha, who wrote, directed, and co-produced the film with T-Series, framed it as an incisive exploration of identity, conflict, and discrimination in Northeast India. The trailer promised a gritty, politically charged thriller, with Khurrana’s character embedded in a high-stakes mission to broker peace between separatist groups and the government.

Critics, however, were divided. Some praised the film’s ambition, calling it a "deeply political" inquiry into "disturbing truths" about marginalization in India. Others found it "woolly," criticizing its cautious approach to a fraught subject. The Economic Times described it as "another unsettling, thought-provoking socio-political drama," but noted that its nuanced take might not resonate with audiences seeking straightforward entertainment.

Box Office Struggles and Streaming Salvation

Anek’s theatrical run was underwhelming, failing to draw crowds despite Khurrana’s star power and Sinha’s reputation for socially relevant cinema. The film’s polarizing reception likely played a role—its deliberate ambiguity and lack of clear heroes or villains may have alienated viewers expecting a more conventional thriller.

Yet, as Sinha himself acknowledged, Anek wasn’t made for mass appeal. In an interview with The Indian Express, he addressed the film’s lukewarm box office performance, suggesting that its themes were too complex for a broad audience. The shift to Netflix, where it found a second life, aligns with a growing trend of politically charged Indian films bypassing theaters for streaming platforms, where niche audiences can engage with them on their own terms.

Casting Choices and Regional Representation

One of Anek’s most talked-about aspects was its casting, particularly the inclusion of actors from the Northeast. Andrea Kevichüsa, a Nagaland-born model and actress, played one of the film’s central roles, marking a rare moment of visibility for performers from the region in Bollywood. The supporting cast also featured Manipuri actor Loitongbam Dorendra and Arunachali actor Mepham Otsal, a deliberate choice by Sinha to lend authenticity to the story.

Khurrana, known for his socially conscious roles, was a natural fit for Joshua, though some critics argued his performance lacked the intensity the character demanded. The chemistry between Khurrana and Kevichüsa was a highlight, with their on-screen dynamic adding emotional weight to the film’s political backdrop.

The Aftermath: A Film Ahead of Its Time?

Anek’s legacy remains a subject of debate. Was it a misfire, or a film that simply arrived before its audience was ready? Sinha’s willingness to tackle Northeast India’s geopolitical complexities—often ignored by mainstream cinema—deserves credit, even if the execution didn’t fully land. The film’s streaming success suggests that its themes resonated with a segment of viewers, even if they weren’t enough to sustain a theatrical run.

For now, Anek shows Sinha’s commitment to pushing boundaries, even at the risk of alienating audiences. Whether it will be remembered as a bold experiment or a cautionary tale remains to be seen—but its place in the conversation about Indian cinema’s engagement with regional politics is secure.