Ram Jagadeesh’s debut film Court: State Vs A Nobody is an ambitious legal drama that attempts to explore the intersection of justice, privilege, and power. While the film boasts powerful performances and a socially relevant narrative, it leans more toward melodrama than procedural precision, ultimately weakening its impact.
Set in 2013 Visakhapatnam, the story revolves around 19-year-old Chandrasekhar (Harsh Roshan), the son of a watchman, who struggles to make ends meet while resisting his father’s insistence to continue his education. Chandu’s life takes a dramatic turn when he falls in love with 17-year-old Jabili (Sridevi Apalla), a girl from a wealthy, dominant caste family. Their relationship sparks the ire of Jabili’s uncle Mangapathi (Sivaji), a rigid patriarch who fabricates a case against Chandu, accusing him of stalking and sexual harassment under the POCSO Act, ensuring his imprisonment without bail.
Just as the Sessions Court seems set to rule in Mangapathi’s favor, novice lawyer Surya Teja (Priyadarshi) steps in to reopen the case, driven by a sense of justice that isn’t effectively established in the narrative. The symbolic significance of their names adds a poetic layer to the story — the moon (Chandu) needing the sun (Surya) to shine, reflecting how Chandu’s fate hinges on Surya Teja’s efforts.
Despite its potential, the film’s screenplay occasionally stumbles, with subplots about education and women’s empowerment remaining underdeveloped. For instance, Chandu’s reluctance to pursue his studies and the court’s bias against his dropout status is introduced but never fully explored. Similarly, Jabili’s mother Seetha (Rohini Molleti) shows a late transformation in standing up against Mangapathi, but her character arc feels weak due to insufficient development.
What truly elevates the film are the stellar performances. Priyadarshi, Sivaji, Harsha Vardhan, Saikumar, and Rohini breathe life into their roles, with Sivaji standing out as the formidable antagonist Mangapathi. His imposing screen presence lends gravity to the conflict, making him a character audiences will remember long after the credits roll.
The film also benefits from Vijai Bulganin’s evocative score and Dinesh Purushothaman’s impeccable cinematography, which infuses each frame with a somber tone befitting the narrative’s gravity.
While Court could have been a more gripping legal drama with a tighter script and a sharper focus on its core themes, it succeeds in raising crucial questions about justice and privilege. Ram Jagadeesh’s debut is commendable for its ambition, even if the execution occasionally falls short.
