Friends, you know the legal courts plays an important role in today’s life, as this is the only legal system which can interpret what is wrong and what is right according to law of the land. I am not going into the details of the legal system of our country, as all of you are aware about that. In today’s weekend blog, I am writing about few Bollywood films, whose story line was around the courtroom. In these films courtroom scenes were required as per storyline. In Bollywood terminology these films are known as courtroom dramas. So here are few courtroom dramas which were very sensibly filmed and liked by both critics and cine goers.
1 Kanoon (1961)- The film was produced & directed by BR Chopra. It starred Ashok Kumar, Rajendra Kumar , Nanda, Mehmood, Om Prakash, Nana Palsikar & Shashikala. The film’s main theme was whether capital punishment should be there or not. This was among the few films produced in Bollywood, which had no songs. Other issue raised in the film’s story were whether a man can murder the same person twice, and other was when even witness lie on the stand while giving their statement, then whether the accused should be given capital punishment based on such type of witness. Wonderful acting by the ensemble cast, but Ashok Kumar was above all. Perhaps it is the best courtroom drama film and if you have not seen it, then you must watch now.
2 Aitraaj (2004)- It starred Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra & Madan Puri. Akshay and Priyanka knew each other in younger days and had feelings for each other, but because Priyanks was very money minded , she left him and married a rich old man Amrish Puri. In the meantime Akshay marries Kareena, who is budding lawyer. Years later Priyanka comes back to Akshay’s life as his company owner’s wife. As Priyanks was sexually not satisfied with her old husband, she make advances towards but he does not respond. So in anger she files a sexual harassment case against him. There is a good courtroom action in most of the movie, which kept audience engrossed throughout. Fine acting by Priyanka Chopra.
3 Rustom (2016) – This movie was based on the famous Nanavati case of 1960. As per my knowledge this was one of the last cases in India, where verdict was given by Jury members. The film starred Akshay Kumar in lead role of Rustom, who is naval officer, who is straight forward and non corrupt. His friend who is involved with corrupt naval officials, want to sell a old warship to Indian Navy, but after inspection Rustom rejects the said ship. In the meantime as he is away most of the times his friend develops illicit relationship with wife. When Rustom comes to know about this he kills his friend. The case goes to court and Rustom defends himself in the court. Courtroom scenes are brilliant the movie. In the end even presiding judge is also surprised by jury’s verdict. Wonderful performance by Akshay Kumar for which he won National best actor award.
4 No One killed Jessica (2011)- This movie was based on Delhi’s famous case when a rich/brat person who when refused hard drink by a bar hostess kills her. The girl was Jessica Lal. The film is based on the case trial, and what happens to her sister Sabrina Lal in persuing this case in the court, and she is shattered when the accused is acquitted as most the witnesses turn hostile/changed their statement. One TV journalist started the crusade against the judgement and people supported her, and she gather evidence against the witness who changed their statement on receiving cash or were threatened by friends of the accused. How the public forces the courts to reopen the case and accused is sentenced. Wonderful acting by Vidya Balan as Sabrina and Rani Mukerji as TV journalist.
Meri Jung (1985)- Directed by Subhash Ghai. The film starred Anil Kapoor, Amrish Puri, Nutan, Meenakshi Sheshadri. A corrupt lawyer Thakral ( Amrish Puri) gets a innocent person convicted for murder and who is given death sentence. The son of innocent person , Arun (anil Kapoor) who when grows up, becomes a defence lawyer and the film is about how Arun defeats Thakral in various cases in courtroom battle. Courtroom scenes were brilliantly shot and well performed by all the actors.
Rest of the courtroom drama films, will be covered in my next weekend blog.
Waiting for your views/comments/feed backs
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
24th July 2020.
R. N. Mungale.
Very good.