Description of film by writer: A one hour courtroom drama that raises important societal questions of gender bias and social conditioning, it challenges many set notions. The film raises important questions, and leaves you, the viewer, to judge the answers.

An experimental skit filmed during Covid Pandemic Nov 2021

Writer: Mr. Ramanjaneya Sharaph

Director: Sheetal Sanjay

Cast: from Anantha Namana Nataka Tanda, UK.

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gH7i03aUxs

Duration: 45 minutes

Storyline: It’s a ‘why-done-it’, rather than ‘who-done-it’. It raises the question of whether ‘being guilty’ can be equated with ‘committing a crime’ – and of course, what qualifies as a crime? And what is the ‘self’ which deserves to be defended.

The drama starts with a female judge casually swatting a spider, perhaps indicating our guiltless way of dealing with a pest. She goes on to sit in judgment of a wife accused of stabbing her husband.

The defense lawyer tries to force an insanity plea upon the client Boomika, which is resolutely refused by the client. As he withdraws, his assistant Tejaswini takes on the mantle of honoring the client’s wish and defending the client without resorting to insanity plea. A courtroom drama then unfolds….

Positives that struck me: 1] Despite having a male writer, the drama has a decidedly empathic view from women’s pov. Rare indeed!

2] The emphasis is on judging the moral values of sanity/insanity, justified/unjustified deed rather than focusing on how/why/when the crime occurred

3] I like how subtly even the female judge is okay with being typecast as the ideal wife. She meekly accepts going without a breakfast, so long as hubby dearest gets his favorite dish. Witty!

4] Despite an amateur cast the acting is surprisingly good. My personal fav is Anapoorna Anand as judge, who is stern, irritable, judgmental and thoughtful by turns. Bhoomika is good in her emotional outburst too.

5] It underscores how casually the male veers towards a patronising, chauvinistic or plain derogatory attitude, whether it’s the defense lawyer who demeans his assistant as ‘a mere pretty face’, the unseen husband of the judge who expects his wife home early to attend his relatives, and even the secretary Rita who doesn’t mind office flirting.

6] Instead of presenting the audience with a readymade finale, it leaves the final judgment upon the audience. It reminds me of Ayn Rand’s ‘Night of January 16th’, where Ayn had the audience as jury.

Verdict: Being a thriller, revealing anymore of the plot would be akin to spoilers galore. Enjoy this drama on your own, explore where your true sympathies lie, and what would your reaction be in Boomika’s position.