V Ravichandran in ‘The Judgement’. | Photo Credit: G9 Communication Media & Entertainment/YouTube
Directed by Gururaj Kulkarni Decision, Investment banker Anil (Diganth Manchale) is arrested for the murder of his client Roopa (Roopa Rayappa), who heads an NGO. Right from the start, there is something that tells us that Anil is not the culprit. Even when Govind (V Ravichandran), known as the best lawyer, ensures that Anil is proven guilty, we feel there is more to it than meets the eye.
Decision The film is more about the intricacies of the Indian legal system than the investigation of the case. So, we the audience are always two steps ahead of the murder case, even if the makers think they are surprising us.
The film gets interesting when Govind has a change of heart and decides to find out if Anil is the culprit. The film makes interesting observations about what motivates lawyers to take up certain cases.
Govind is a man who is ready to fight cases when people boost his ego. He wants to be called the best and bows to people who make him believe that he is God. Can ego prevail over truth? His wife (Meghna Gaonkar), who is a lecturer, raises this question, forcing Govind to introspect.
Decision The story moves forward as Govind decides to investigate the case in-depth. As Govind connects Rupa’s murder to another case, we get to know about various laws and different possibilities in the court room.
There is a clear attempt to make the film an interesting legal drama, but Decision Too You feel like you are watching a television serial. The loud background score as the police officer investigates the murder scene is jarring. The production design, especially of the courtroom, looks dated.
The Judgement (Kannada)
Director: Gururaj Kulkarni
Mould: V Ravichandran, Digant Manchale, Rangayana Raghu, Rekha Kudligi, Krishna Hebbale
Runtime: 151 minutes
Plot: Anil, an investment banker, is convicted for the murder of his client. A popular lawyer proves that Anil is guilty, but later changes his mind and fights for his release
Anil’s parents (Rangayana Raghu and Rekha Kudligi) lament and grieve over their son’s fate, just as we see in serials. Qureshi, a corrupt minister, has all the makings of an overrated villain. Krishna Hebbale’s acting saves the somewhat cliched character. In between, you also see junior lawyers commenting on Govind’s abilities. The unnecessary extra focus on the hero hampers the film.
The reason behind the delay in star-dominated Kannada films
Decision The story falls short because it does not try to strengthen the aspects of the story. The clues are presented quite conveniently, and it is easy to guess who the killers are. The court proceedings, conducted by Ravichandran, Decision It’s worth a look, although the amount of information might tire you out.
Overall, Gururaj Kulkarni’s second film It is not something to forget. Despite its predictability, it does keep you hooked to an extent.
