Movie Name : Court
Release Date : March 14, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Priyadarshi, Harsh Roshan, Sridevi, Sivaji, Sai Kumar, Harsha Vardhan, Rohini, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Surabhi Prabhavathi, Rajasekhar Aningi
Director : Ram Jagadeesh
Producer : Prashanti Tipirneni
Music Director : Vijai Bulganin
Cinematographer : Dinesh Purushothaman
Editor : Karthika Srinivas R
Related Links : Trailer
Court: State Vs. A Nobody is the latest Telugu courtroom drama featuring Priyadarshi as the lead. With its intriguing trailer, the film garnered significant expectations. Now that it has hit the theatres, let’s see how it fares in our review.
Story:
Set in 2013 in Visakhapatnam, Mettu Chandrashekar (Harsh Roshan), also known as Chandu, is the son of a watchman and earns his living by doing various jobs. Jabilli (Sridevi Apalla), a student from a respectable family in the same city, crosses paths with him. An incident leads her to tease Chandu, and they gradually start talking over the phone. One day, Jabilli’s uncle Mangapathi (Shivaji), a caste fanatic blinded by honour, discovers that she is in Chandu’s house. Enraged, he gets Chandu arrested and attempts to ruin his life by falsely applying the POCSO Act against him. As the case intensifies, the victim’s family seeks the help of Vijayawada lawyer Surya Teja (Priyadarshi), an assistant to the senior advocate Mohan Rao (Sai Kumar). What happens next? Does Surya Teja prove Chandu’s innocence? Why is Mangapathi so ruthless towards Chandu? How does the courtroom battle unfold? Does Chandu get justice? The answers lie in the main film.
Plus Points:
Director Ram Jagadeesh deserves appreciation for crafting a meaningful courtroom drama. Despite this being his directorial debut, he handles the narrative well, particularly in the courtroom sequences, which are well-written and engaging.
The next highlight is the performances. The director has written the character of Mangapathi exceptionally well. Shivaji, in the role of a caste-driven and cruel man willing to go to any extent for his family’s honour, delivers one of the finest performances of his career. His portrayal is so convincing that many might relate it to real-life figures.
Young actor Harsh Roshan gets another interesting role, and the movie revolves around his character. His performance in the love scenes and his conversations with Sridevi Apalla, who plays Jabilli, are commendable. On the other hand, Sridevi looks beautiful and carries her role with charm.
The main highlight of the movie is Priyadarshi, who plays Surya Teja, a competent lawyer. Once again, he gets an interesting role and delivers a compelling performance. His dialogue delivery is neat, and during the courtroom proceedings, his expressions speak louder than words. It is a remarkable role in his career.
Actor Harshavardhan is equally impressive alongside Priyadarshi. His courtroom sequences are impactful. Other supporting actors, including Surabhi Prabhavati, Sai Kumar, and Rajasekhar Anigi, fit their roles well and do justice to their characters.
The climax is one of the most well-written scenes, where the director effectively presents the public’s perspective on law and emphasises the importance of legal awareness in a thought-provoking manner.
Minus Points:
Though the film presents an important subject, particularly shedding light on the POCSO Act, the director overlooks certain details. The movie was set in 2013, but some props and locations, such as Ola bikes which were not present at that time, appear in the film. While minor, such factual errors should have been avoided in a serious drama to maintain authenticity.
The core story actually picks up only in the middle of the first half. Before that, the teenage love story might not appeal to everyone, as some scenes feel repetitive. The first half is somewhat less engaging, while the second half is much better executed.
The courtroom proceedings are well-written, making the audience applaud at key moments when Priyadarshi wins his arguments. However, the film lacks intense verbal exchanges between Priyadarshi and Harshavardhan, which are typically expected in courtroom dramas. Additionally, the proceedings could have been made more gripping to keep the audience on edge.
While the casting is undeniably excellent, it’s clear that some actors, like Sai Kumar, Surabhi Prabhavati, and Roshini Molleti, are not utilised to their full potential. Their characters deserve greater emotional depth and development, which would have significantly enhanced the overall impact of the story.
Technical Aspects:
Director Ram Jagadeesh does a commendable job in his debut. He chooses a unique subject that has not been explored recently. His writing and direction are solid, though there is still room for improvement.
On the technical front, the movie is decent. Dinesh Purushotham’s cinematography is good, while Vijay Bulganin’s background score elevates several emotional scenes.
Karthika Srinivas R’s editing is fine but could have been tighter. The screenplay by Ram Jagadish, Karthikeya Sreenivass, and Vamsidhar Sirigiri is well-written, though a stronger first half would have enhanced the film. The production values are decent.
Verdict:
On the whole, Court: State Vs A Nobody is an engaging courtroom drama with strong performances from Priyadarshi, Shivaji, and Harsh Roshan. The second half, particularly the courtroom sequences, stands out, with the background score adding emotional depth. Conversely, the film underutilises a talented cast, and the first half feels slow with repetitive scenes. However, courtroom dramas of this kind are rare, and this one deserves a watch. If you enjoy legal dramas with solid performances, go ahead and book your tickets.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
