What’s it about?
The story, set in Visakhapatnam in 2013, centers on teenager Chandu (Harsh Roshan), a watchman’s son who works various jobs to support himself. His path intersects with Jabilli (Sridevi Apalla), an intermediate student from a wealthy family, resulting in a blossoming relationship.
However, their budding relationship invites the ire of Jabilli’s uncle, Mangapathi (Shivaji), a caste fanatic who falsely implicates Chandu under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The escalating legal battle sees lawyer Surya Teja (Priyadarshi) stepping in to defend Chandu, challenging a system that has presumed his guilt.
Analysis
As the title suggests, “Court – State vs A Nobody” is a legal drama centered around courtroom proceedings. Like “Jolly LLB” and “Vakeel Saab,” the film follows a familiar template for court dramas. However, debut director Ram Jagadeesh infuses it with a strong commentary on societal prejudices—without explicitly naming caste—and systemic flaws.
The film delves deeply into the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, highlighting both its significance and potential for misuse.
The central conflict revolves around a POCSO case, with the first half laying the groundwork through the teenage love story, Mangapathi’s caste and class fanaticism, and Priyadarshi’s aspirations to establish himself as an independent lawyer. However, the slow pace and repetitive sequences in this portion fail to create a strong impact.
The film finds its groove in the second half, particularly in the gripping and thought-provoking courtroom sequences. While adhering to conventional courtroom drama tropes, Jagadeesh effectively captures emotions through well-crafted scenes and strong character moments. He is further supported by a cast that delivers compelling performances.
On the downside, the film takes several cinematic liberties, bypassing standard legal procedures for the sake of narrative convenience. Some aspects of the trial may feel unrealistic to those familiar with judicial processes. Even some sequences between the characters of Harsha Vardhan and Priydarshi lack gripping quality, and they look too basic.
Priyadarshi delivers a natural and convincing performance as a young defense attorney fighting to prove his teenage client’s innocence. Shivaji, portraying Mangapathi, stands out as the film’s formidable antagonist, embodying a toxic mindset with chilling authenticity. Harsh Roshan brings sincerity to the role of Chandu, capturing the character’s vulnerability, while Sridevi Apalla gives a neat performance as Jabilli. Saikumar is effective as a senior lawyer, and Rohini, despite limited screen time, leaves an impression. So is Surabhi Prabhavati.
Technically, the film does not aim for brownie points, but the cinematography, production design, and music serve their purpose well.
Bottom-line: “Court: State vs A Nobody” is a fairly engaging courtroom drama that sparks reflection on societal and judicial issues. Despite a sluggish first half and some narrative conveniences, strong performances—particularly from Priyadarshi and Shivaji—and a well-executed second half make it a worthwhile watch.
Rating: 3/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Court – State Vs A Nobody
Cast: Priyadarshi, Harsh Roshan, Sridevi, Sivaji, Sai Kumar, Harsha Vardhan, Rohini, Subhalekha Sudhakar, and others
Music: Vijai Bulganin
DOP: Dinesh Purushothaman
Editor: Karthika Srinivas
Art: Vithal Kosanam
Co-Producer: Deepthi Ganta
Presents: Nani
Producer: Prashanti Tipirneni
Written and Directed by: Ram Jagadeesh
Release Date: March 14, 2025
