Using Mohanlal in the lead role, filmmaker Jeethu Joseph’s film Neru successfully tries to steer clear of the courtroom drama genre while maintaining emotional depth and realism.
Gist of the Story
The story centers on a blind girl who gets assaulted in her home, creating a difficult legal struggle. The film poses the issue, “Will any advocate emerge to champion the cause?
| Directed by | Jeethu Joseph |
|---|---|
| Written by | Santhi MayadeviJeethu Joseph |
| Produced by | Antony Perumbavoor |
| Starring | Mohanlal |
| Cinematography | Satheesh Kurup |
| Edited by | Vinayak V. S. |
| Music by | Vishnu Shyam |
| Production company | Aashirvad Cinemas |
Detailed Plot
In the Thiruvananthapuram district, a crime is recorded under the jurisdiction of the Thumba police station. Sarah, a blind sculptor played by Anaswara Rajan, is the victim. Her family brings legal action against the offender for rape. Sarah’s parents are portrayed by Jagadeesh (Mohammed) and Sreedhanya (Parveen). The accused, a corporate businessman’s son, is facing legal action, and the family has chosen to fight back. But because he comes from a wealthy family, Michael hires Rajasekhararan (Siddique), a well-known Supreme Court attorney, to represent him.
The hunt for a special public prosecutor is sparked by Mohammed and Paul’s realization that the public prosecutor designated by the government is biased in favor of Rajasekhararan. Ahana (Santhi Mayadevi), a former court employee, helps them contact Vijayamohan (Mohanlal), a former courtroom firebrand who left the profession following an unfavorable occurrence. Vijayamohan takes up the case because he is affected by Sara’s tenacity and helplessness, even though he lacks confidence to stand for the trial. The filmmakers want to portray in the movie whether or not the victim receives justice. What we witness in Neru is the efforts of special public prosecutor Vijayamohan, who hasn’t taken on any trials in a while, to bring Sara’s case to justice.
Artistes’ Performances
The best part of the movie is undoubtedly Mohanlal’s portrayal as Sara’s companion in this one. Vijayamohan is shown as nuanced by his controlled acting, and even when he is spewing technical IPC sections and jargon, you can’t help but fall in love with his act. Furthermore, he sends a message that is desperately needed in today’s culture by supporting women in courtroom drama.
The standout performance is by Anaswara Rajan as Sarah. It’s the finest performance of her career, the part of the blind woman. She brings to life the feelings of a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to expose the offender. One of Neru’s key lessons is the last scene, in which she and her parents stroll to the media. Siddique is an excellent defense attorney for Rajasekharan. Once again, the performer demonstrates his mettle. As Rajasekharan’s daughter and attorney, Priya Mani (Poornima) is remarkable. The other two standout talents are Jagadeesh as Mohammed and Shanthi Mayadevi as Ahana.
Direction / Technical Side
Without providing any background information, Neru jumps directly into the story in the first scene, but none of the character development feels forced. The fact that the victim, a young girl called Sara, is blind makes gathering evidence against her difficult. According to Jeethu Joseph’s statements made during interviews, the film is not a suspense thriller in which we have to find the criminal. The main character and the movie have to deal with the judicial system, which prioritizes facts above feelings. Throughout the early part of the film, captivating courtroom sequences keep the viewer interested. A pivotal scene comes when Siddique’s character, who is a defence lawyer, examines the victim’s actions and implies that she isn’t responding in a way that one would anticipate from a victim of rape. However, the last portion of the movie is too drawn out and includes unnecessary suspenseful scenes that seem to be included only for show.
Neru offers intriguing components to work with, but in contrast to typical legal dramas, the group chooses to spend as much time in the courtroom as feasible. In order to guarantee that the courtroom proceedings are as realistic as possible, as well as in terms of time and space. As a result, some of the scenes become repetitive, and the accused’s strategies become very obvious. Furthermore, it is impossible to avoid the impression that the processes were given excessive weight, which compromises the film’s cinematic aspects. In terms of music, “Neru’s” background score improves the mood and emotional effect of the movie. It starts off nicely, staying out of the way yet still making a significant impact on the scenes’ overall tone.
Verdict;
“Neru” is an engrossing courtroom drama that captures your interest from start to finish. The movie also emphasizes an important point: in the judicial system, people who can properly support their claims win out in the end. With this Mohanlal-starring film Neru, director Jeethu Joseph has done a commendable job of navigating the courtroom drama genre while maintaining emotional depth and realism.