Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – A common lawyer with honesty and integrity can take on the system when he has truth on his side.

My Take – One of the biggest pleasures of watching legal thrillers is to witness rookie lawyers taking on the elite and influential, all in order to receive justice for the common people and to uphold the fact that the law applies to all irrespective of status or stature. A very well-known David vs Goliath template, which rarely unfolds in reality.

However, that is not the case of this ZEE5 release, which takes cues from the infamous real life Asaram Bapu case, wherein the god man was charged with rape of a minor in 2013. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, who is known for helming shows like TVF‘s Aspirants, and written by Deepak Kingrani, the film follows the same story but changes names, delivering an engrossing hard-hitting courtroom drama.

And while the story takes enough and more cinematic liberty with respect to the treatment of a story this sensitive, it also has all the juicy theatrics and the palpable energy of a courtroom drama which is carefully reined in and reveled in by its blazing performances. Sure, the film has its problems but it manages to do justice to the survivor and also the theme it follows.

Most importantly, it tells the story of a horrific crime without ever exploiting its subject which is a win in itself. Above all, the film deserves a watch for Manoj Bajpayee’s extraordinary performance which elevates the film’s already exceptional storytelling and drama.

The story follows Advocate PC Solanki (Manoj Bajpayee), a simple god fearing lawyer living with his mother and young son in Jodhpur, whose life is thrown into chaos and constant limelight when he takes on the case of Nu (Adrija Sinha), a minor teenage girl.

A few days ago Nu, along with her parents (Jaihind Kumar and Durga Sharma) filed an FIR against Babaji (Surya Mohan Kulshrestha), a revered God-man who rubs shoulders with the most influential people in the country, for sexually assaulting her. And given his stature, in no time, the world is turned against her.

But despite all kinds of pressures, including a threat to his life and all witnesses, Solanki stays on the case which drags through the tardy Indian justice system with its predilection for delays, especially when it comes to protecting the rich and powerful.

As one would expect, the proceedings are fierce and furious, and props to director Apoorv Singh Karki for ensuring that the gripping tale keeps you hooked throughout. The courtroom scenes burn bright with logic and repartee.

He also handles the narrative with great sensitivity, even in the scenes when the defense asks Nu pointed questions about the incident or how mindfully the police handle the case. It does not sensationalize the event while ensuring it’s gripping.

It sticks close to the facts of the original case instead of embellishing wildly. With Baba in judicial custody, Solanki squares off against a battery of celebrity defenders. There is a burst of legal chicanery: at one point, a false school certificate is furnished to discredit the victim’s age, so POCSO charges can be removed.

Elsewhere, a bogus health condition is concocted to move the defendant abroad. Solanki foils these man-oeuvres with a slew of clever arguments, appeals and analogies. His patter in court is calm and persuasive, yet he isn’t immune to the occasional theatrics, loudly slamming his desk while mimicking a hotshot opponent.

The makers derive both conflicts and resolutions from the readings of the law, the veracity of documents and the cross-examination of witnesses. This one is clearly not the first attempt at tackling religion and self-proclaimed spokespersons of the various gods in the Hindu religion through the lens of the Indian judicial system. But what makes the film stand out is the overall realism of the location, courtroom set, the narrow lanes, the atmosphere at home and the relatable characters.

One of the best scenes of the film is when Solanki tries to convince the minor girl on the terrace to fight against the god-man and not be scared. The way this lawyer became a guide, mentor, and guru to her is worth watching. Again, there are no back to back scenes that scream out loud about the relationship this lawyer might have developed with his young client but the way these scenes are done, they speak volumes about the importance of Solanki in the girl’s life since he was the only one who could show her all the sides of this case and mentally prepare her for the dirty game that was about to unfold, inside and outside the courtroom.

It also helps that Manoj Bajpayee is leading the film. He shows prowess, especially in adapting his mannerisms while interacting with different stakeholders—Nu, her parents, his mother, his son, the judges, the lawyers he admires, and his assistant. From determined to scared, emotional, awestruck and outraged, he aces every nuance. Setting and smashing benchmarks film-after-film, the actor skyrockets himself into the league of one of the best Indian actors of all time.

Adrija Sinha is placed between aced performers, and doesn’t disappoint. In whatever screen time she gets, she makes sure she proves herself even with a covered face with only eyes visible to the audience. In supporting roles, Vipin Sharma, Jaihind Kumar, Surya Mohan Kulshrestha and Durga Sharma are excellent too. On the whole, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ is a gripping courtroom drama anchored by a captivating Manoj Bajpayee performance.