We are all used to watching the glorified Court scenes in many films, released till now. Bollywood film maker B.R.Chopra used them in many of his films. So, we have a set idea about the Indian courts in our mind. Even otherwise, hardly 1 or 2 percent of the country’s population have actually visited such courts. Generally, the common man comes to know about the proceedings of many famous court cases, through newspaper reports only.
Chaitanya Tamhane’s latest Multilingual film ‘Court’ which has won current National award, besides bagging 17 awards at various international film festivals, is now released all over India, like any other Hindi film. The film revolves around a character of Narayan kamble ( Veera Sathidar), who is accused of abetting, for the suicide of a municipal worker, deployed for cleaning the sewer, in the city of Mumbai. Narayan kamble , who is a folk singer, happened to perform in the locality, where the worker lived. Subsequently, when the worker is found dead in the sewer, Narayan kamble is charged, because according to the investigating Police officer, the lyrics of the folk song, encouraged the worker to commit suicide.
Narayan kamble, who has been arrested on different charges in the past, being a revolutionary, makes the police case strong against him. But a defense lawyer Vinay Vora ( Vivek Gomber) from a well to do Gujarathi family, who shops cheese and wine at elite super market and who spends his holiday with parents at a good hotel and visits posh Pub with friends; comes forward to help the accused. In the Sessions Court, you find him arguing with State attorney ( Geetanjali Kulkarni) , after she reads out a long detailed charge sheet in English, with English sub titles.
With this limited story of the film, the director goes on to show us the typical sessions court hearing in this case, against the accused Narayan kamble. In between, we find the director shifting the scenes from courtroom, to personal lives of the two lawyers and the judge. There are many realistic scenes, such as Narayan kamble’s stage performance, his treatment at hospital, the defence lawyer’s visit to victim’s house and so on. But, the over stretched scene of the judge spending the vacation at a resort with his family looks little odd, with the judge recommending one of his relative to believe in numerology and gem stones. Therefore, the concluding part of this sensible film, fails to appeal. There is no message as such through this film, as it is a true reflection of our Indian society.
There are certain other happenings in this film, which also fail to appeal the Indian audience; particularly the regular movie goers; though they might have appealed the Juries,who rated this film as the best. There are many other excellent Indian films, which deserve better awards; but’ they cannot afford to participate at all international film festivals. Even some of them, don’t send their entries for the National awards. And, if this film has been categorized under Marathi film, then films like ‘Dhag’, ‘Jogwa’ ( National award winners), ‘Elizabeth Ekadashi’ and ‘Khel Mandala’ were certainly better films with a social message .
But, looking at the sincerity of the makers of ‘Court’, Vivek Gomber( producer) and Chaitanya Tamhane( director) and the excellent performances of many new artistes, the film is a worth watch for all intelligent film lovers. It can also change taste of some regular film lovers. Above all, it presents a real picture about the typical functioning style of our Sessions Court.
( Rating : ***)