The National Award winning drama Court is an independent, multilingual film, written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane. It examines the Indian legal system through the trial of an ageing folk singer in a lower court in Mumbai. A realistic drama with satirical undertones, the film also explores the personal lives of the players involved in the case, beyond the courtroom.
The film tells the tale of a sewerage worker’s dead body is found inside a manhole in Mumbai. An ageing folk singer is tried in court on charges of abetment of suicide. He is accused of performing an inflammatory song which might have incited the worker to commit the act. As the trial unfolds, the personal lives of the lawyers and the judge involved in the case are observed outside the court.
Here’s something cool, debutant director Chaitanya Tamhane organized a special screening of his National Award winning film Court for the secondary cast last Sunday. It was an emotional moment for the cast most of whom were non-actors including Usha Bane – widow of a man-hole worker – as they were clearly thrilled to see themselves on the big screen. They cheered and applauded even louder as the list of awards were shown. Many were overheard calling it the greatest achievement of their life. The multi-lingual film that has won as many as 18 of the most prestigious awards internationally, is set to release on April 17th.
Check out Chaitanya and Vivek Gomber posing with the secondary cast of Court.
