Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai review: Manoj Bajpayee’s film is a masterclass on how a courtroom drama is done right – OTTplay

Story:
Loosely “impressed by true occasions,” Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai chronicles the five-year-long journey and courtroom battle of an peculiar Excessive Court docket Lawyer – Poonam Chand Solanki (essayed by Manoj Bajpayee) – towards one of the vital adopted and highly effective godmen within the nation. The godman (performed by Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha and hereafter known as Baba) is charged underneath the Safety of Youngsters from Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (POCSO) and arrested after a 16-year-old woman, Nu Singh (performed by Adrija Roy) recordsdata an FIR towards him for sexually assaulting her. The movie particulars the trials and tribulations of Solanki and Nu of their combat for justice towards the perpetrators who typically escape punishment by legislation due to their place of energy. 

Assessment:
With Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Director Apoorv Singh Karki brings to your screens a extremely participating and fascinating courtroom drama sans the heightened theatrics that normally type a typical authorized procedural movie. You’d be dwelling underneath a rock in the event you’re nonetheless unaware that Bandaa relies on the 2013 case the place Asaram Bapu was accused and convicted of raping a minor. Apart from the identify of the lawyer – PC Solanki – all the opposite names have been modified within the movie. 

Motion pictures based mostly on real-life incidents and court docket proceedings, particularly when coping with an act like POCSO, run the danger of changing into preachy and exhausting with too many explanations as the common viewer isn’t actually conscious of the technicalities of legislation. Fortunately, author Deepak Kingrani steers away from the identical and manages to successfully stability the script, at the same time as he intently follows the statements of the actual PC Solanki in the course of the varied hearings of the trial.

One of many many areas the place the movie actually shines is the gripping writing and taught route. The makers waste no time and are available straight to the purpose throughout the first 10 minutes of the movie. Proper from the occasion the place Nu Singh and her mother and father go to the police station to register the criticism, until the decision is introduced, the movie calls for your consideration and retains you hooked. 

A number of the credit score for a similar goes to the best way a number of scenes have been written. Whereas it’s simple to fall into the lure and sensationalize the problem at hand in a movie like this however kudos to the makers that they handle to captivate you with out resorting to such means and strategies. As an alternative, they deal with the topic with utmost sensitivity and empathy, whereas sticking to details and letting the actors do the heavy lifting with their delicate however extremely efficient performances.

The movie is a masterclass in how a well-researched, nuanced courtroom drama is completed proper. Whether or not it’s a scene involving the breakdown of a witness or Solanki’s arguments on why POCSO is relevant within the case – each little element has been highlighted with out making them preachy. The climax scene that ends with Bajpayee’s closing assertion with a brief mythological story involving the three classes of sins and why Ravana’s sin of abducting Seeta in Ramayana doesn’t should be even thought of for atonement, will certainly invite claps from the viewers. It is without doubt one of the best written monologues in current occasions, elevated additional by the supply of Bajpayee. 

There are such a lot of scenes that make you marvel on the actor par excellence that Manoj Bajpayee is. Be careful for the scenes the place Bajpayee’s Solanki finally ends up fanboying after his opponent and asks for a selfie, or the place he’s being chased by potential attackers within the slender lanes of Jodhpur, or when he’s speaking to Nu, attempting to warn her in regards to the soul-crushing questions that could be requested within the courtroom and on the identical time giving her the energy to stay sturdy. 

It’s evident that Bajpayee has invested loads of time in internalizing the traits of the lawyer and his struggles via the five-year-long trial. Despite the fact that there’s so much at stake right here, he doesn’t go excessive, neither does he turn into overly emotional. His character is a disciple of Lord Shiva however is a person of the legislation. He’s god-fearing but additionally understands that religion can by no means surpass the legislation. He’s been within the system lengthy sufficient to know the sort of hurdles that await him, the sufferer, and her household, and the best way he explains the identical to the woman’s mother and father in a heart-wrenching scene is actually good. Bajpayee’s earnest and delicate portrayal of Solanki will certainly go down as certainly one of his most cherished performances.

Despite the fact that, Bandaa is just about a one-man present, courtesy Bajpayee, the supporting solid too does a advantageous job throughout the scope of their respective characters. Vipin Sharma performs a worthy opponent to Bajpayee and their equation each inside and outdoors the courtroom additionally turns into one of many highlights. On the finish of the day, each of them are merely attempting to do their job. Jai Hind Kumar and Durga Sharma as Nu’s mother and father match the tole effectively. Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha barely will get any dialogue, particularly after the primary 15-20 minutes or so, however he does a advantageous job even together with his glimpses and empty stares devoid of any regret all through the movie. It’s Adrija Roy’s portrayal of Nu that really shines, even in entrance of an ace actor like Bajpayee. Despite the fact that her face stays coated via a lot of the movie, her dialogue supply via moist eyes is so on level that you simply don’t miss seeing her facial expressions. 

The background rating too enhances the narrative effectively, with out even as soon as overpowering the dialogues or attempting the ‘make you are feeling’ a sure manner. The songs and music by Sangeet-Siddharth and Roy are satisfactory however weren’t actually obligatory. Within the second half, the movie does appear to pull on for a bit. The size of the movie might have simply been introduced down by about 8-10 minutes. Additionally, at some junctures, the dubbing appears to be a bit off and you’ll clearly make out that the lip-syncing of the characters is totally different from the dialogues you hear. However these are minor hiccups that needs to be neglected in favour of the stainless storytelling and distinctive performances by the solid. 

Verdict:
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is uplifted by Manoj Bajpayee’s distinctive act. It’s a nuanced and extremely participating courtroom drama that shouldn’t be missed!

(All photographs, until talked about in any other case, by way of YouTube/Screengrab)