BOTTOM LINE
Legal Drama, Bommarillu Feel
PLATFORM
Sonylog
RUNTIME
2 hours 50 minutes (5 episodes)
What Is the Show About?
In Sonylog’s Court Kacheri, Param, son of a revered advocate Harish Mathur, works under his father against his wishes. Throughout his life, his father had given him a lot more than he wanted, overwhelming him mostly. Meanwhile, for Suraj, a junior to Harish for a long time, a big break in his legal career remains elusive. A seemingly straightforward divorce case lands in their hands, only for it to take wild turns.
Performances
Good casting choices get a major chunk of the job done, and Court Kacheri is no different, ambling along seamlessly minus major hiccups. Pavan Raj Malhotra’s endearing portrayal of a hardened father is a huge win, and gets the viewer empathising with his choices. Ashish Verma, as the awkward youngster figuring his way out, is impressive in portraying Param’s gradual evolution.
Puneet Batra is the surprise find in the show; he mirrors the disappointment and the integrity in Suraj with absolute sincerity. Priyasha Bhardwaj shines as a female advocate standing tall in a male bastion. Others, including Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Kiran Khoje, Sumali Khaniwale, and Bhushan Vikas, make their presence felt.
Analysis
IMFwhich has made an unofficial franchise out of reluctant protagonists finding their feet in an arena they weren’t tailor-made for, through shows like Panchayat and Gram Chikitsalay (both for Amazon Prime Video), has come up with a new addition to the list – Court Kacheri, for a different OTT platform (Sony LIV). It’s a legal drama where a young man comes of age, learns his lessons the hard way.
There are precisely three threads that unfold simultaneously in Court Kacheri. Param feels stifled working under the same roof as his father, Harish, where the room to carve his niche is minimal. Suraj, who has patiently waited for his turn to be treated as an equal to Harish, makes vain efforts to stand on his own feet. A deceptively simple divorce case comes their way, which gets prolonged.
In a nutshell, the core premise is a closer cousin to Bommarillu (minus the love angle), though set in a different domain. The father, a single parent, barely asks his angsty son what he wants. The son feels his father is too much of a stalwart to have a regular conversation. There are no huge outbursts (except one), but only silent realisations. Where did it go wrong in the first place?
Court Kacheri tells a regular story with a predictable trajectory, with obvious reference points, but with conviction. Unlike the production house’s desperation to relentlessly churn out breezy, feel-good tales, it’s unafraid to showcase the messiness in the protagonist’s journey. Param is nearly caught in a fake degree scam, tries to bribe an officer, lands in jail, and takes the system for a ride.
While the story is predominantly about the father-son angst and the men coming to terms with each other, the legal backdrop is not an eyewash either. Suraj’s struggles to make it big hint at how nepotism is prioritised over talent at Mathur’s workplace. With the divorce case too, the characters are made to work to prove their worth; you get to see why the men are worth rooting for.
Everything comes together efficiently because the men remain relatable, vulnerable, make mistakes, realise them and try to make amends before it’s too late. While Harish initially appears as a stone-hearted man, the sensitive layers in his persona come to the fore gradually. Even as Suraj tries to tread his path, he remains respectful to Harish for laying the foundation to his career.
The show keeps itself busy enough to cater to a restless viewer and also makes space to let the characters breathe, find themselves. While the broad strokes are dealt with care, the little things strike a chord, too. The only grouse is Param’s sudden change of heart, which, though expected, could’ve come through more organically. The ending is neat, offering a closure to many journeys.
Court Kacheri is a father-son tale positioned as a legal drama, which, despite its not-so-unique premise, gets its basics right – performances, precise writing and executed with flair. While the storytelling is breezy, there’s depth in it too. It is designed for easy, comfy viewing and it fulfils its purpose well.
Music and Other Departments?
Anshul Takkar’s music is fluid, using the score judiciously to drive the narrative along in its intended fashion. Cinematographer Aniruddha Patakar, within the constraints of his ambience, brings credibility to the execution with his sharp, focused frames that establish the backdrop and the journeys of the characters. The edits let the drama flow, not at the cost of pace, ensuring a decent, low-stakes product with a soul. The dialogues, by Akshay Anand Kohli and Anurag Kohli, are situational, witty, altering their hues as and when necessary.
Highlights?
Engaging mostly
Good drama matched by breezy treatment
Precise writing, effective performances
Drawbacks?
Re-packages an oft-told tale
Evolution of Param’s character not organic enough
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly, yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you like familiar courtroom dramas with an emotional hook, go for it
Courtx Review Review by M9
