System (2026) Review!!

Synopsis – Privileged prosecutor Neha Rajvansh and humble stenographer Sarika Rawat’s lives collide in a system where power shapes truth, forcing them to question the meaning of justice.

My Take – Courtroom dramas rarely falter, perhaps because there’s an inherent thrill in watching justice prevail against impossible odds. That relentless pursuit of truth keeps audiences riveted. However, this latest directorial from Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly Ki Barfi) attempts a more layered exploration of justice, probing the slippery boundaries between culpability and innocence, and how power, privilege, and bureaucracy distort those definitions.

It’s an intriguing approach no doubt, but midway the narrative tension starts to fade. The turns become easier to predict, and the story loses some of its bite. Written by Harman Baweja, Arun Sukumar, Iyer Tiwari and Tasneem Lokhandwala, the film has the framework of a compelling legal family drama. It runs on parallel tracks of courtroom tension and murder mystery, designed to converge.

Yet the writing lacks the sharpness and emotional depth needed to elevate the material, particularly in the final act, where the twist demands stronger execution. The film also misses the opportunity to lean into either grit or realism, both of which could have added heft.

Nevertheless, the performances, especially by Jyotika and Sonakshi Sinha, keep the film engaging even when the script falters. And, its socially charged themes give it relevance, even if the suspense doesn’t always hold.

The story follows Neha Rajvansh (Sonakshi Sinha), an ambitious young lawyer who is eager to prove herself. Particularly to her father, Ravi Rajvansh (Ashutosh Gowariker), a celebrated advocate who insists she succeed on her own before joining him in practice. However, Neha is struggling in her role as a public prosecutor in Delhi that is until she meets Sarika (Jyotika), a court stenographer with sharp legal instincts developed from years of transcribing arguments.

And when Sarika becomes Neha’s secret collaborator, she begin winning case after case. Her rise takes a dramatic turn when the apparent suicide of a small‑time blogger is revealed to be murder. And the case places Neha directly against her father, who is determined to defend his longtime client, the corrupt builder Vikram (Vijayant Kohli). Forcing Neha to confront a harsh reality: the law does not always serve justice.

Like most courtroom dramas, this one suggests there is more beneath the surface than what we see. Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari stays true to her style, centering two resilient female protagonists, one shaded with moral ambiguity. Around them, powerful men cling to their egos while ordinary lives are caught in the storm between wealth and poverty. Neha’s journey as a lawyer feels steady and believable, with the film hinting early on at an inevitable courtroom showdown with her father Ravi.

The quieter moments are where the film shines most. Sarika’s home life, her responsibilities, and the everyday atmosphere of the Public Prosecutor’s office bring authenticity. These scenes feel grounded and real. The courtroom sequences, however, rush past without enough depth, making it clear that the emotional drama is the true focus rather than the legal battles. The film raises sharp questions about institutional manipulation and whether justice can ever truly prevail in a system driven by power and influence.

It repeatedly blurs the line between truth and proof, asking whether truth matters at all if it cannot be demonstrated. What stands out is the portrayal of two women determined to live life on their own terms. Their sexual independence is refreshing in mainstream Hindi cinema. Neha’s candid admission to her lover that he makes her happy feels startlingly honest, while Sarika’s casual approach to her own relationships is handled with matter‑of‑fact ease.

Unfortunately, the film loses its footing. Neha, who seemed committed to defending those in need, suddenly appears eager to join her father’s camp, undermining the independence that defined her arc. Had the film stayed focused on the character study of these two women instead of chasing a neat conclusion, it could have been something special.

The cases themselves feel rushed, from a restaurant fire to the murder of a popular influencer. They play out almost like checkpoints for Neha’s progress, with her sidekick reduced to delivering witty one‑liners that distract more than they add. The climax, where the killer is revealed, lands with little impact. The film raises an important point about how power often defines truth, but it struggles to give that idea emotional weight.

Performance wise, Sonakshi Sinha sheds her usual glam image and delivers a restrained performance. Her stoic presence adds weight to the key moments, capturing the conflicted emotions of a daughter trying to carve out her own identity while living under the shadow of her accomplished father. Jyotika is the standout. Long associated with the “good girl” image, she leans into moral ambiguity here, and it pays off. Her softness, exhaustion, vulnerability, and intelligence make Sarika the emotional anchor of the film.

Ashutosh Gowariker is serviceable and brings the necessary authority to the role. The supporting cast features familiar streaming faces such as Adinath Kothare, Vijayant Kohli, Aashriya Mishra, Nishant Singh, Sayandeep Sengupta, Diwanshu Gambhir, Gaurav Pandey, and Preeti Agarwal Mehta. Unfortunately, most of them are underutilized, leaving little lasting impression. On the whole, ‘System’ is an uneven courtroom drama that remains engaging, yet falls short of being truly impactful.