SECTION 375 movie review is here. The courtroom drama is based on Section 375 of Indian Penal Code laws and is directed by Ajay Bahl. Starring Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha, the movie is written by Manish Gupta.
Does it provides justice?. Let’s find out in SECTION 375 movie review. SECTION 375 releases on September 13, 2019
Immediate reaction when the end credits roll
Bold and truthful – perhaps one of the finest court room drama that dares to enter the unchartered territory on rape/sexual crime cases and gains importance in its cutting edge observation on facts that gets ignored. SECTION 375 is a courtroom drama that is intensely powerful, relevant, well etched and smartly written.
The Story of SECTION 375
Anjali Dangle (Meera Chopra) a junior costume designer accuses a famous and arrogant movie director Rohan Khurana (Rahul Bhat) of rape and molestation. Rohan Khurana gets arrested. Anjali gives her statement and proofs confirming her allegations against Rohan are produced in Sessions Court. The Sessions Court gets convinced and Rohan is found guilty. The Sessions Court slaps a punishment of ten years of rigorous imprisonment for Rohan. Rohan’s wife Kainaaz (Shriswara) approaches famous criminal lawyer Tarun Saluja (Akshaye Khanna) to fight her husband’s case in the Bombay High Court.
On the other hand a known female activist Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadha) is given the responsibility to fight the case on behalf of Anjali and the State. As the case progresses, some ugly truth and facts erupt opening the gates on the debate on law, justice, judiciary, the bigoted understanding of a sexual crime, the shocking state of women in India and most importantly how law can be used as a tool both by the victim and the predator.
SECTION 375 movie review
SECTION 375 is honed by an intensely powerful and gripping narration by B.A. PASS fame Ajay Bahl. You cannot afford to blink an eye. It’s tout, tight and arresting right from frame one when Akshaye Khanna gives his valuable inputs on Law to aspiring lawyers to the last frame when the movie has left an overwhelming impact and poked our senses pertaining to the common understanding of sexual crimes. Manish Gupta’s sharp screenplay that is laced with layers and filled with details makes SECTION 375 a disturbing yet demanding watch.
The dialogues are acidic and make a huge impact. “We are in the business of law, not in the business of justice” says Akshaye Khanna and when he confesses that justice is abstract and law is a tool to attain justice, we the thinking audiences are forced to ponder on the thought provoking irony. Director Ajay Bahl who is also credited for the additional screenplay shows respect for the Court. Like the well etched courtroom dramas of the world, SECTION 375 sticks to its case and in no way tries to take the dignity of the Court lightly. The sanity and authenticity is maintained.
The best part of SECTION 375 is that it refuses to take any side and yet passes the verdict and astonishingly leaves the ‘judgment’ finally in the hands of the audience. SECTION 375 is that courtroom drama that filmmakers will aspire to make in future.
After the artistic brilliance seen in COURT that explored the sorry state of judiciary, the terrific mainstream PINK educated us on the power of consent and women rights, SECTION 375 dares into the virgin territory of the ignorance and casual approach adapted while investigating such heinous crimes in a solidly strong and relevant manner.
The performances in SECTION 375 are of highest orders.
Akshaye Khanna is a class apart in perhaps his best in recent times. He is just terrific. Sheer brilliance.
Richa Chadha is a revelation, she is subtle yet powerful and smartly restrained as a lawyer who is against her opponent’s ethos but is awed by his skills. A controlled and nuanced performance.
Rahul Bhat is amazingly natural and at ease with his character.
Meera Chopra grows with her act as the movie progresses leaving a haunting impact.
Supporting actors chip in with tremendous support where Krutika Desai and Kishore Kadam as Judge are wonderful. Kishore Kadam gets some moments of sly humour as well and he excels. Shriswara as Rahul’s wife is noteworthy. Shrikant Yadav as the cop is outstanding. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is flawless. Sandhya Mridul as Akshaye Khanna’s wife has her moments and she provides proper justice.
Flaws
It’s an intense movie right from the word go. It’s not one of those run of the mill over the top cliché loud Bollywood drama. At many places the dialogues are in English.
Verdict
Justice may be abstract but SECTION 375 has all the potential to create a huge impact in Bollywood courtroom dramas on sexual crimes. Intensely powerful, well etched, relevant with top notch performance, SECTION 375 is disturbing but a demanding watch. Missing it will be a crime.
