Bandaa Review: This courtroom drama deals with the subject matter in a very delicate and sensitive way
Bandaa Movie Rating: 3.5 Stars
Just watched Bandaa movie on Zee5 Premium. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Adrija Sinha, Vipin Sharma & Surya Mohan Kulshrestha
Director: Apoorv Singh Karki
Release Date: 23rd May 2023 on Zee5
Story: Movie is based on the true-life story of Godman Asaram Bapu’s arrest and the courtroom battle that followed till the judgement in the rape case, for which he was convicted, was delivered by the court.
Film begins with a minor girl Nu (Adrija Sinha) visiting a police station in Delhi to file an FIR of sexual assault against a reputed Baba (Surya Mohan Kulshrestha). Her case is soon transferred to talented lawyer PC Solanki (Manoj Bajpayee) who promises himself to fight her case with pure honesty and dedication.
A Shiv bhakt himself, PC Solanki makes sure to face every challenge that’s thrown at him with full commitment. His fight for justice is, of course, not simple, given the power and influence Baba wields. But Solanki’s resolve is what sees him through. Ultimately, how he secures justice for Nu forms the crux of the drama.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Story
3. Dialogues
4. Climax
5. Direction
Negatives
1. Length
2. Screenplay
3. Music
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on premiere day as it based on true events and it has Manoj Bajayee in the lead.
This is the story of a five-year-long standalone fight of a regular session court lawyer who stands for the truth and his struggle to bring justice to the girls who were wronged by a godman. The case was moved to the Session Court. Witnesses were killed and threatened by the godman’s goons but due to the efforts of Adv. Solanki, finally the victim gets justice.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is hard-hitting, engaging and empowering. The film is gritty and riveting. It doesn’t try to beat around the bush and gets straight to the point from its very first frame. There are quite a few extremely powerful scenes that are stirring as well as moving. To be specific, there is a scene on the terrace where P.C. Solanki prepares his client Nu for what awaits, and there also is a scene between P.C. Solanki and his mother, where he shows his vulnerability for the first time. The background score is spine-chilling and effective. The courtroom battle is so powerful and so entertaining that it sucks you in completely. In fact, it would not be incorrect to say that you will start enjoying the courtroom drama as if it were unfolding in reality in front of their eyes. The game of one-upmanship played in every court hearing is so enjoyable that the viewers look forward to each day’s court hearing with bated breath. And they feel a sense of elation each time Baba’s bail plea is rejected.
On the flipside, film is a tad longer than it should have been. It can be chopped by around 10-20 minutes for greater overall impact. The film gets a bit haphazard in the middle, which comes as a shock since the film flows smoothly in the first 45 minutes. The makers fail to explain to the viewers who Mahesh Bhavchandani was. Also, the track of Baba’s son is not properly executed and will leave viewers confused. Secondly, in several places, one might feel that there’s a lack of tension in the narrative. It becomes predictable and repetitive after a point to see P C Solanki managing to counter every argument put forward by the defence very easily. One wishes there were scenes where P C Solanki is cornered or that he’s able to bounce back after facing some challenging situations in the court.
The courtroom drama deals with the subject matter in a very delicate and sensitive way. Not just audiences having an inclination towards courtroom films but everyone should enjoy watching the film. It will win a lot of praise for its extraordinary writing, fantastic narration and high-order performances. It is an example of how courtroom dramas should be made in India. There is no over-the-top drama, and the focus remains on the main topic throughout – to make sure the godman pays for his sins. It makes you have faith in the judiciary. Moreover, Bandaa should solely be watched for Manoj Bajpayee’s performance. No other actor could have given the performance this film deserved. My view on this movie Highly Recommended.
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