Chaitanya Tamhane’s ‘Court’ Is India’s Entry to Oscars: A Review

Here’s what we thought of Chaitanya Tamhane’s ‘Court’, India’s entry for the Academy Awards

The Quint’s review of Court, India’s official entry for the Oscars, published earlier on April 16, 2015.

Film: Court
Cast: Vivek Gomber, Vira Sathidar
Director: Chaitanya Tamhane

Directed by twenty-something Chaitanya Tamhane, Court is not only a sobering and fantastically acted film, it’s also one of the best you’ll see this year.

Court chronicles the case of Narayan Kamble (Vira Sathidar), a Maharashtrian sociopolitical activist arrested in connection with the suicide of a young municipal worker. But here’s the thing – this is not a straightforward courtroom drama that ends on a whodunit note. There is more of a character study, focusing on the people attached to the case, anchored by a giant dose of social commentary and a faint spotlight on the flimsiness of our judicial system.

Not often do we see what goes on behind the scenes of the court, and director Tamhane doles out just that. We’re taken through the lives of the defense (Vivek Gomber), the prosecution lawyers (Geetanjali Kulkarni), and even the judge (Pradeep Joshi), and it’s interesting to see them stripped off their courtroom outfits, struggling to deal with the mundaneness of their daily lives. Back home, away from the court even these people are just normal human beings, and the contrast between their work persona and social persona is fascinating.

That the judicial system is flimsy is well known, but to see it unravel on the screen is quite beguiling. The sights and sounds of the lower level courts are hilariously sad, and Court makes no bones about showcasing the appalling conditions present. The film is not necessarily a total takedown of the system, because we only see a handful of the atrocities at play, but it’s mesmerizing nonetheless.

The film is itself stripped off the normal rules of formula – there are no flashy shots here or dramatic music, because Tamhane’s characters and incredible grasp on milieu and authenticity do all the heavy lifting. The atmosphere, the imagery and sound design of the film are powerful enough drag you inside the film.

For all the goodwill in the film, Tamhane is an extremely indulgent filmmaker. Nearly every shot in Court plays out for an extra 10 to 15 seconds, and you begin to question the point or necessity of the length. Even basic shots of a man walking go on for longer than expected, and you can’t help but fault the film for being film festival bait. The climax would probably polarize the mainstream crowd, but it’s certainly unforgettable. Make of it what you will, but don’t miss the film, if you want a movie that is, for a change, intelligent and challenging.

(Mihir Fadnavis is not only a film critic and journalist but also a certified film geek who has consumed more movies than meals.)