Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023) – Jinx Coolness’ Cinephile Weblog
5 min read
*TW: Themes of rape/sexual assault talked over in evaluation.
Keeping genuine to its title, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ (literal translation: ‘Just just one individual is enough’) recounts the correct story of Pc Solanki, a devoted attorney and an particular person who’s also really virtually 1 of a form- being the only lawyer in Jodhpur nicely-versed with the then newly handed POCSO act/ The Protection of Small children from Sexual Offences Act, who single-handedly reaffirms the electric power of this phrase by his courageous act of defending a teenage rape sufferer in a courtroom of law… Specially when a group fails her.
Adrija Sinha in a nonetheless from Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai
The screenplay and dialogue by Deepak Kingrani are just just one of the movie’s numerous putting features, presenting the specifics of the situation factually but also not just concentrating on the ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ social gathering, but fairly placing emphasis on the obvious hypocrisy and divide among the religious minded adult males and ladies as perfectly as equally taught and ingrained mindsets, the blurred lines involving moral and immoral specially in issues of religion- specially thinking about that the rapist is a god-gentleman/untrue prophet and as the aforementioned group mostly comprise his devout followers and leading lawyers who are much more than willing to support him escape scot free of charge inspite of these kinds of heinous crimes (it is genuinely jarring and challenging to digest both a slender minded lay-person as properly as educated authority figures whom you’d expect to be comparitively open up-minded banding with each other to vacation resort to victim shaming, but alas, it is in truth a severe reality!).
Manoj Bajpayee stars as the upstanding Computer Solanki
Even a lot more so refreshing is that in its place of relying on graphic and triggering scenes of the traumatic incident, there is a contact of sensitivity and nuance to this courtroom drama which doubles as a morality tale and a character analyze of every single unique- Be it from a storytelling standpoint, the parallels or its dialogues (Solanki’s haunting and unforgettable closing assertion is just one these instance), all impeccably showcasing its god-fearing and humane protagonist undergoing a ethical as properly as religious dilemma with the circumstance proceedings dragging on over a time period of 4 many years, and who unlike his peers in the job, proceeds to battle the good combat by detaching himself from the private ideals that threaten to cloud his over-all closing verdict and doing exercises sheer mental strength to conquer the similar.
A still from Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai
The movie’s 1st 50 percent also draws comparisons concerning the titular ‘bandaa’ and the responsible ‘baba’- As the visibly guilty god-person who even with multiple rape fees mounting versus him shockingly lacks a worry of God nor authority, continuing to weaponise religion as an instrument of abuse from his vulnerable woman devotees, calmly assuring his rapt audience even as the law enforcement get there to arrest him at his ashram, and bribing veteran lawyers who plead loyalty to him fairly than to Girl Justice, while Solanki on the contrary is launched as a God fearing man who adheres to rituals but is in the long run not shackled to the exact at his office, only conserving his prayers to embolden himself in the very last act as he asks for power in the course of an arduous battle for justice.
Now coming to the performances, I’m even now reeling from the significant whiplash that I’m subjected to just about every time I witness Manoj Bajpayee simply embody just anybody from sinister baddies and auto-jackers in his early outings these as ‘Road’, far more not too long ago as a solution agent in the ‘Family Man’ world wide web collection, and now in his accolade-fetching turn as Solanki, the upstanding attorney. The actor deftly switches among and captures the many aspects of this ‘banda’- These kinds of as the feisty high-quality of a excellent lawyer in quickly batting off many fake accusations versus his client merely with info and a facet of snark, and concurrently infusing him with a fatherly deameanor as Solanki is a one father, and is so only in a natural way inclined to see his younger client with a acquainted protecting gaze like 1 would to their own child. Observing Bajpayee onscreen only further more led to an increase in my appreciation in direction of not only the talented actor himself, but also in my regard for ‘green flags’ like Solanki who act as unwavering and selfless allies to gals when all typical decency is dropped, and a have to have for extra bravehearts with the braveness to relentlessly argue versus the crimson flags who dare shamelessly harass or elevate queries on a woman’s dignity instead than posing queries on their possess problematic beliefs! Among the supporting cast, I will solitary out younger Adrija Sinha as Nu (Solanki’s client and the rape sufferer), as perfectly as Amrita Chakraborty in the critical position of inspector Pushpalata who information Nu’s statement in the quite initial scene of the motion picture and afterwards, whose subtle reactions to Solanki’s statements on women’s basic safety in the courtroom sequences felt apt and perfectly conveyed the severe fact confronted by ladies almost everywhere with minimal dialogue. And finally, a unique mention to Veena Mehta as Solanki’s mother who manages to place aside her have beliefs, in buy to cajole and comfort her son when the going gets rough in the fight versus evil.
A going coronary heart to heart between Solanki and his mum
Amrita Chakraborty as inspector Pushpalata
‘Sirf Ek Bandaa…’ also positive aspects from good direction by Apoorv Singh Karki and similarly impeccable vision that must also be lauded. The relationship of each these features can be witnessed in 1 of my favorite sequences in the movie- The back again and forth involving Solanki and senior counsel Ram Chandvani, noticably in the nuanced method in which system language is utilised to its fullest to express the two distinctive personalities and moralities of the two persons: With the veteran lawyer coming across as an entitled, condescending, even acting dismissive/belittling by thumping his fists on the desk as if to assert energy around his ‘opponent’ (even if this just helps make him come throughout each and every little bit of a caveman!), and Solanki in its place winning us about with his stage headed and sardonic demeanor and entirely justifiable startled reactions that are completely timed with just about every thump, eventually coming into his personal by appropriating this identical ‘power move’and turning the tables with his very own victory thump, as if to indicate a refined ‘F-you’ to the former. And the very last 50 percent alone really should alone stand as a ultimate testomony to the energy of layered charactersiation, imagined provoking dialogue and the value of building up an engaging narrative, in the end proving to be goosebumps-inducing to its main!
The art of coaxing out the real truth
Total ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa…’ is a nicely executed, engrossing court drama that ranks suitable up there with the likes of other will work in the exact genre (some of which are my particular favorites) these as ‘Talvar’, ‘Shahid’ or even the David Tennant-starrer ‘Escape Artist’. And a great deal like its counterparts, it way too is deserving of a coveted 14 hour standing ovation!
