Often ‘word of mouth’ works for the discerning viewers in choosing films and web-series among the plethora of content that surfaces on the OTT platform, since the reviews on print media are not necessarily unbiased. Thanks to the fairly positive feedback received from informed friends we decided to latch on to this ostensibly low-budget ‘Hotstar’ film that hasn’t been much talked about. At the end of it we were left happy & inspired !
It should be apparent to the makers that no matter what masala mix, star power & incredible action scenes you inject, a film’s content, its purposeful story-telling and screenplay that etches out real characters, makes a film watchable. Crime-Action-Drama formulahas been beaten to death played out by jaded superstars with irritating regularity. ‘Patna Shukla’ scores on many points but what appeals is sheer simplicity and sincerity of purpose.
Courtroom dramas have been common in Hindi movies but actors who’ve donned the judge/lawyer robes have hammed and overacted loudly in al-most all barring ones like Manoj Bajpayee’s ‘Bas Ek Banda Sirf Kafi Hai’ ! Here we have Raveena Tandon (far-cry from earlier glamour girl avtaar) effortlessly playing a crusading lawyer who’ll walk many extra miles to get justice and her relentless quest puts her family in jeopardy as she defies powerful bosses to unearth a ‘Marksheet’ scam in the Patna University. The intensity of her nuanced performance was indeed quite a revelation.
Presiding over the case is the no-nonsense, down to earth District Judge and late Satish Kaushik wins our hearts with humorous quips & crisp raps. Anushka Kaushik as the aggrieved student is very impressive as is Manav Vij playing the morally upright husband who stoically stands by his wife ! There’s also a bright cameo from Raju Kher, our dear friend in Mumbai, who endearingly essays the role of a supportive father caught in the legal crossfire. He must go along with his lawyer-daughter for securing justice.
There are few telling messages that ring true in today’s context. The wily ‘Neta’ facing corruption charges, boasts by saying ‘times have changed, we do illegal things in a legal way’ (like coercion and administrative action). Cinematic license is taken but this is an indictment on the malpractices in system of education. It’s morality and integrity that must win in the end !
Working on Living 