Kennedy review: Back in form Anurag Kashyap shows what Bombay Velvet could have been; Rahul Bhat gives a career-best act

With Kennedy Anurag Kashyap reclaims the voice that once made him one of India’s most daring filmmakers.

After the commercially unsuccessful Bombay Velvet many critics and audiences questioned whether Kashyap had drifted too far from his raw street-level storytelling roots.

Kennedy answers that doubt powerfully. The film is not a comeback—it feels like a correction.

Kennedy shows what Bombay Velvet might have been had its vision been tightly controlled and emotionally grounded.

Importantly Kennedy provides Rahul Bhat with a career-defining performance that anchors the film’s tense, noir atmosphere.

### The Story: A Cop Who Refuses to Die

At its core Kennedy is a neonoir thriller. The film follows a dead” police officer who secretly works as a contract killer for corrupt officials.

This premise instantly sets the tone— grey, violent and psychologically layered.

Unlike mainstream thrillers Kennedy is not driven by high-speed chases or loud action sequences. Instead it unfolds slowly with simmering tension.

The narrative explores:

* Corruption within the system

* Psychological isolation

* The blurred lines between duty and crime

* Redemption and self-destruction

The protagonist is neither hero nor villain. He is trapped in a system that uses him as a weapon.

Kashyap crafts the story like a burning fuse allowing audiences to absorb the suffocating darkness around the character.

### Anurag Kashyap: Back to His Strengths

Anurag Kashyap has always excelled in portraying India’s underbelly. In films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Black Friday he captured violence and corruption with realism.

Bombay Velvet though ambitious suffered from excessive stylization and an overblown narrative. The emotional core got lost in the spectacle.

In Kennedy Kashyap seems to have learned from that misstep. Here’s how:

1. **Controlled Visual Style**: The film embraces neon-lit darkness and moody compositions. Never lets style overpower substance. The noir aesthetic serves the story than distracting from it.

2. **Minimalist Dialogue**: Kashyap relies heavily on silence. Long pauses, close-ups and background sound design create psychological depth.

3. **Focused Narrative**: Unlike Bombay Velvet, which sprawled across timelines and political arcs Kennedy remains tightly focused on one man’s internal struggle.

4. **Emotional Honesty**: There is vulnerability beneath the violence. The protagonist’s loneliness is palpable.

### Rahul Bhat: A Career-Best Performance

Rahul Bhat delivers what may be one of the underrated performances in recent Hindi cinema.

He doesn’t overact. He doesn’t rely on speeches. Instead:

* His eyes communicate exhaustion and rage.

* His posture reflects a man carrying weight.

* His silence speaks louder than dialogue.

The role demands restraint. Bhat embodies a character who lives like a ghost— dead emotionally numb and morally conflicted.

Critics have praised his performance for:

* intensity

* Physical transformation

* Subtle emotional shifts

* Total immersion into character

This is the kind of role that can redefine an actor’s career. Much like Kashyap found renewed clarity Bhat finds his cinematic moment here.

### Sunny Leone: A Surprising Layer

Sunny Leone’s casting raised eyebrows initially. However she delivers a performance that adds emotional complexity.

Her character is not merely ornamental. She brings:

* Emotional grounding

* A sense of normalcy in a world

* Quiet resilience

Her presence softens the film’s harsh edges without weakening its tension.

### Cinematography and Atmosphere

The cinematography deserves attention. The film embraces:

* Low-light environments

* Neon reflections

* Urban claustrophobia

* Rain-drenched cityscapes

The visual tone resembles noir but remains rooted in modern India. Unlike the extravagance of Bombay Velvet Kennedy uses darkness effectively. Shadows become characters themselves.

Sound design further enhances immersion. Of loud background scores we hear:

* Distant sirens

* Footsteps in corridors

* Breathing

* Silence

This creates discomfort—exactly what noir thrives on.

### Themes: Corruption, Isolation and Identity

1. **Institutional Corruption**: The film shows how systems consume individuals. Kennedy works for authorities who treat him as expendable.

2. **Moral Ambiguity**: There is no right or wrong. The protagonist is both executioner and victim.

3. **Identity Crisis**: Declared dead he exists in limbo. Who is he if the world believes he doesn’t exist?

4. **Loneliness**: Perhaps the film’s powerful theme. Kennedy is surrounded by people yet emotionally isolated.

### Comparison: What Bombay Velvet Could Have Been

Bombay Velvet aimed to create a gangster epic set in 1960s Bombay. While ambitious it collapsed under its weight.

Kennedy feels like the distilled essence of that ambition:

| Aspect Bombay Velvet | Kennedy |

| Scale Large, extravagant | Intimate focused |

| Tone | Stylized glamour | Raw noir realism |

| Emotional Core | Inconsistent Deeply personal |

| Lead Performance | Mixed reception | Career-best act |

In many ways Kennedy shows that Kashyap’s strength lies not in big-budget spectacle but in intense character studies.

### International Reception

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival gave the film credibility. International critics appreciated its mood-driven storytelling and psychological focus.

Many compared it to:

* noir cinema

* Korean crime thrillers

* Slow-burn arthouse dramas

This international appreciation reinforces Kashyap’s reputation as a filmmaker whose style transcends borders.

### Strengths of the Film

* Rahul Bhat’s performance

* Tight screenplay

* direction

* Atmospheric cinematography

* Psychological depth

### Minor Weaknesses

No film is perfect. Some viewers may find:

* The pacing slow

* The violence disturbing

* The narrative minimalistic

However these are choices rather than flaws.

### Why Kennedy Matters

For Anurag Kashyap this film is symbolic. It marks:

* recalibration

* Return to artistic confidence

* Proof that he still understands storytelling

For Rahul Bhat it’s transformative. It positions him as a performer capable of carrying complex narratives.

For cinema it demonstrates that:

* Mid-budget performance-driven films still matter

* Style can serve substance

* Neo-noir has space in storytelling

### Final Verdict

Kennedy is a haunting tightly crafted neo-noir that restores faith in Anurag Kashyap’s filmmaking instincts. It strips away excess. Focuses on psychological intensity.

Rahul Bhat delivers a performance that deserves recognition. The film may not cater to mainstream audiences seeking high-energy entertainment. For viewers who appreciate layered storytelling and atmospheric cinema it is deeply rewarding.

In the end Kennedy stands as:

* A comeback

* A character study

* A noir meditation

*. A reminder of what focused filmmaking can achieve

If Bombay Velvet represented ambition, without control Kennedy represents control without compromise.