Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy earned standing ovations at Cannes and global festivals but is still awaiting theatrical release in India.
Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, acclaimed at Cannes and global festivals, is yet to receive its much-awaited theatrical release in India.
The international festival circuit has made Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy one of the most popular Indian movies. The film received positive reviews from international audiences and won standing ovations at major global events, but has not yet been released in Indian theaters, which keeps movie fans in suspense.
The Midnight Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival 2023 showed its first public screening. The international audience reacted to the film because of its noir thriller elements, which resulted in a seven-minute standing ovation. Critics of the film described its raw intensity and atmospheric storytelling, and Kashyap's strict artistic vision, as the official Cannes response proved that Indian independent cinema has gained worldwide recognition.
The Sydney Film Festival received Kennedy as its next festival after Cannes, which the audience presented with a standing ovation. The film received praise from both viewers and critics because of its extreme visual style, its energetic musical score, and its complex storytelling. The film achieved international success because it maintained its appeal across different regions, which included various cultural and linguistic barriers.
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival was the first time that Indian audiences got to see Kennedy, where it went over well with positive word-of-mouth from viewers after the film was screened and generated new interest in Kashyap's bold narrative filmmaking style, used to combine the intense nature of the films Kashyap makes with visual elements commonly associated with film noir. Sunny Leone’s and Rahul Bhatt's performances were well received by the audience, too.
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival provided Indian audiences with their first opportunity to watch Kennedy, which quickly became a popular film through word-of-mouth promotion. The screening of the film brought back attention to Kashyap's bold approach, which included his use of dark visual elements and serious subject matter. The audience received Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhatt's performances very positively.
There is now good news for Anurag Kashyap’s fans. According to a Bollywood Hungama report, Kennedy is expected to release in Indian theatres within the next one or two months, although no official announcement has been made yet.
The report also reveals that the trailer will be launched on February 8, 2026, at Cross Maidan, Mumbai, during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2026. Anurag Kashyap, along with Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhatt, is expected to attend the event and interact with audiences.
Kennedy is scripted and directed by Anurag Kashyap, produced by Zee Studios, and produced by Good Bad Films. The story follows a sleep-deprived police officer seeking to redeem himself, involving numerous intense and morally ambiguous situations.
