Court: State Vs. A Nobody, directed by newcomer Ram Jagadeesh and presented by Natural Star Nani on Wallposter Cinema, is debuting in theatres this Friday. Its early premieres have been held. Here is our review of the latest courtroom drama from Tollywood.
Story:
The story takes place in 2013 in Vizag where a young male named Chandu (Harsh Roshan) from an underprivileged background is in love with Jabilli (Sridevi Apalla), who hails from a rich, upper caste family. When Jabilli’s toxic uncle Mangapathi (Sontineni Sivaji) learns that she is in love with Chandu, he gets him implicated in false cases, including the POCSO Act. When Chandu stares at conviction and a 14-year imprisonment, Teja (Priyadarshi), a rookie lawyer from Vijayawada, becomes his beacon of hope. How Teja swims against the tide and the might of Mangapathi to prove Chandu’s innocence in the court of law is what the film is about.
Analysis:
As a courtroom drama that turns bona fide in the second half with its legal arguments and case-related intricacies, this film gets full marks. Director Ram Jagadeesh pens a strong central conflict that raises high stakes and emotional investment. The script, involving a juvenile victim and a barely-20 accused, avoids overly sensationalized or implausible legal arguments. Without forcing an exploration of ethical dilemmas into the narrative, the film stays as simple and to-the-point as it can.
Actor Sontineni Sivaji, in an outright negative role, gets to reinvent himself. He looks mercurial and dangerous, adding edginess to the proceedings. Priyadarshi, the fine actor of Mallesham and Balagam, plays the smart-witted defence lawyer role with conviction. Harsh Roshan, the child artist of films like Saripodhaa Sanivaaram and Mishan Impossible, gets to look like a commercial cinema lover boy in the first half. Sridevi, who plays the victim, comes across as Junior Lavanya Tripathi. Harshavardhan is good as the cunning lawyer standing on the wrong side of morality. Sai Kumar, as an accomplished lawyer named Mohan Rao, is effective. Rohini (as Jabili’s mother), Subhalekha Sudhakar, Surabhi Prabhavathi, and Rajasekhar Aningi are also seen.
Vijai Bulganin’s songs and background score complement the cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman. The film is edited effectively by Karthika Srinivas R where non-linearity is involved.
Court, by exploring the theme of the abuse of well-intentioned laws, stands out for its sincerity. It doesn’t allow itself to be diluted in the name of entertainment. There are no forced tracks or red herrings. Courtroom dramas like Janaka Aithe Ganaka relied heavily on comedy. Vakeel Saab, the Pink remake, was cushioned with star power. In contrast, Court rests purely on the nitty-gritty of the case at hand.
Key highlights:
1. The nature of courtroom arguments.
2. No dull moments in the second half.
3. The build-up of tension.
Verdict:
Court effectively utilizes the courtroom drama format. While avoiding sensationalism, it delivers a sincere story. It is a must-watch for fans of the genre.
Watch Telugu Online Here
