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!

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