What Is the Story About?
Bandaa is a fictitious courtroom drama is based on the story of a five-year-long standalone fight of a regular session court lawyer and his persistent struggle to bring justice to the girls who were wronged by a god man. The film is said to be loosely based on the conviction of God man Asaram Bapu.
Performances?
This is an exceptionally mighty Manoj Bajpayee setting and breaking his own benchmarks. With a performance stronger than his predecessor film, the actor claims his throne as one of the most refined actors working in India today. As the sole fulcrum of the film, the actor rises and rises even when the screenplay fails him at times.
He is aptly supported by Vipin Sharma who plays Adv. Sharma, the defense lawyer and Nu who plays Adrija.
Analysis
Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi hai is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language courtroom-drama helmed by Apoorv Singh Karki and written by Deepak Kingrani. As a social drama and courtroom drama, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai succeeds in some accounts, while rather lands coldly on other.
Considered as a fictitious account of the real life events that followed around the arrest of the infamous Godman Bapu for sexually harassing a minor, the film follows the relentless crusading pursuit of the lawyer PC Solanki (reel name) to get him behind the bars. The film takes enough and more cinematic liberty with respect to the treatment of a story this sensitive, but mostly manages to do justice to the survivor and also the theme it follows.
Keeping the claims regarding the film revolving around the case of the infamous god-man arrest aside, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai does make sincere attempts to root itself to reality and sensitivity while taking cues with the real life incident. However, much like all courtroom dramas that deal with sexual assault like Pink, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi hai also falls prey to the saviour complex. The title makes itself very clear that it’s not the story of the woman who fought but the lawyer who pushed her case forward.
Regardless, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai does make a statement. In an attempt to bring back media attention on fraud god-men and tricksters and their endless ugly skeletons, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai highlights how the onus to prove the crime is always on the survivor, each time she is assaulted. That said, the film doesn’t explore it deeply either.
A towering Manoj Bajpayee is the saviour in the film literally and figuratively. Setting and smashing benchmarks film-after-film, the actor skyrockets himself into the league of one of the best Indian actors of all time. The actor has brought out a unique mannerism and personality to a rather template yet-another-saviour character. He is aptly supported by a good cast, Nu who plays Adrija, the survivor and more importantly Advocate Sharma, the defense lawyer.
Having said that, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai falls prey to some of the most predictable courtroom drama cliches like the melodrama, court-room arguments, an avoidable glimpse into the personal life of the lawyer, et al. The film offers nothing new per se, but it offers itself with all honesty and does spark back relevant conversations, as evident from its reception.
In short, watch Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Even if courtroom drama isn’t your cup of coffee, try sipping it for Manoj Bajpayee. You’ll walk back to a sensational yesteryear yet still relevant news that shook the nation.
Highlights?
Manoj Bajpayee
A powerful story
Sensitive Treatment
Social relevance
Good Supporting cast
Drawbacks?
Predictable Screenplay
Saviour Syndrome
Too much Cinematic liberty
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes. If not anything, Bajpayee will win you over, again.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Series Review by Binged Bureau
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