Court review: The compelling drama is the finest film of 2015 so far (original) (raw)

Court
Cast: Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vira Sathidar, Pradeep Joshi
Director: Chaitanya Tamhane
Rating:

******

******

******

******

Assuredly directed and intelligently written by debutant Chaitanya Tamhane, Court is a riveting watch

It's not a stretch to say that Court marks the release of the finest film of 2015. It also won't be easy to top the National Award winner for Best Feature Film, a multilingual film which is unlike any courtroom drama Indian audiences have seen. Assuredly directed and intelligently written by debutant Chaitanya Tamhane, Court is a riveting watch. Audiences willing to their exercise their brains for an hour and a half won't be disappointed for they will witness a talented filmmaker present both an engaging story with the Indian judicial process at its centre and offer glimpses of Mumbai's varied socio-cultural fabric.

Tamhane wins instantly with a cracker of a case. A Dalit rights activist, poet and singer is accused of inciting the suicide of a manhole cleaner in a Mumbai slum. But Narayan Kamble (Vira Sathidar) has no recollection of meeting the man let alone driving him to death. But te police has alleged that it was the lyrics of one of Kamble's stirring songs which led to his demise. And so begins a verbal duel between Kamble's lawyer, Vinay (Vivek Gomber), and Nutan (Geetanjali Kulkarni), the public prosecutor, with the judge (Pradeep Joshi) trying to make sense of the case and deliver justice. Who will win?

It's a straightforward story but cleverly executed as Tamhane doesn't just occupy audiences with Kamble's fate but even those of the three principal characters involved in the case: the two lawyers and the judge. Who are they? What is their life like outside the courtroom? What is their idea of fun? These are some of the questions that Tamhane tackles as he follows them as the trial unfolds. The resulting scenes are quiet, amusing observations which give detailed portraits of the characters and their lifestyles.

Assisting Tamhane in executing his vision with accuracy are the actors, led by Sathidar whose nonchalant demeanour as he finds himself in trouble only makes him a more fascinating character. Kulkarni, the closest to a dark character in a film which steers clear of moral judgements, is pitch perfect as a lawyer by day and a Maharashtrian mother of two by night. Gomber, also the film's producer, demonstrates the frustrations and challenges of a helpless lawyer struggling to help his client and let truth win. His Vinay comes closest to voicing the audience's viewpoint of the case.

Also applause worthy is Somnath Pal and Pooja Talreja's realistic production design, which brings alive the court, and casting director Satchit Puranik who fills the room with credible faces in the background. Sambhaji Bhagat's fiery songs are finely incorporated into the drama, and Rikhav Desai's editing lets the film unfold gradually but never dulls it down. In a film of many highs, the film's real star though is Tamhane, who is in control of the proceedings from the beginning. His detailed eye and wry sense of humour only enhance the courtroom experience.

Published By:

AtMigration

Published On:

Apr 17, 2015

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