Court Kacheri

Shifting focus from panchayats and chikitsalayas, TVF takes the legal route to tell the story of a generational conflict revolving around small-town court kacheris. Is Harish Mathur, whose acumen in the court-room has earned him legions of fans, wrong to assume that his son Param will follow in his footsteps? Is Param right in wanting to forge his own path, which will take him far away from both his father’s chosen profession, as well as the land of his birth?

कोर्ट कचहरी और काले कोट वाले वकीलों से लोग अमूमन दूर ही रहना पसंद करते हैं, इसलिए उनकी दुनिया से अंजान भी होते हैं। ऐसे में, न्याय के इस मंदिर के इर्द-गिर्द ढंग से कहानी बुनी जाए तो एक ताजगी और नयापन जरूर महसूस होता है। जैसा कि बीते साल आई वेब सीरीज ‘मामला लीगल है’ को लेकर महसूस हुआ था। रवि किशन स्टारर यह सीरीज टीवीएफ (द वायरल फीवर) से निकले विश्वपति सरकार और समीर सक्सेना ने बनाई थी। वहीं, अब TVF के मूल कर्ता धर्ता अरुणाभ कुमार इसी विषय पर नई सीरीज ‘कोर्ट कचहरी’ लेकर आए हैं, जिसमें दो पीढ़ियों यानी पिता-पुत्र के बीच करियर की आजादी को लेकर तनातनी का तड़का भी है, मगर इसके बावजूद मामला सही से सेट नहीं हो पाया है और उनका यह केस (सीरीज) कमजोर रह गया है।

Court Kacheri does a lot right for its first three (out of five) episodes. It unfolds as a legal dramedy that questions its own identity. The young protagonist, Param (Ashish Verma), is a reluctant second-generation lawyer by virtue of being the son of a popular senior advocate, Harish Mathur (Pawan Malhotra). Param detests the profession — he’s seen his dad entertain all kinds of criminals, shady clients and corrupt politicians over the years. All he wants to do is leave for either Dubai or Canada, but a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) becomes a conflict after he’s caught in a fake-marksheet scam. Basically, he’s a nepo-baby who can’t handle the pressure of legacy. The outsider, Suraj (Puneet Batra), is Harish’s loyal assistant. Unlike Param, he wishes he was his mentor’s son with silver-spoon privileges; his passion for law sees him hustle to start a secret practice with a friend (Amarjeet Singh) behind Harish’s back. In short, there’s a toxic patriarch and two boys desperate to escape his shadow and become their own men.

In Sony Liv’s Court Kacheri, Param, son of a revered advocate Harish Mathur, works under his father against his wishes. Throughout his life, his father had given him a lot more than he wanted, overwhelming him mostly. Meanwhile, for Suraj, a junior to Harish for a long time, a big break in his legal career remains elusive. A seemingly straightforward divorce case lands in their hands, only for it to take wild turns. Good casting choices get a major chunk of the job done, and Court Kacheri is no different, ambling along seamlessly minus major hiccups. Pavan Raj Malhotra’s endearing portrayal of a hardened father is a huge win, and gets the viewer empathising with his choices. Ashish Verma, as the awkward youngster figuring his way out, is impressive in portraying Param’s gradual evolution. Puneet Batra is the surprise find in the show; he mirrors the disappointment and the integrity in Suraj with absolute sincerity. Priyasha Bhardwaj shines as a female advocate standing tall in a male bastion. Others, including Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Kiran Khoje, Sumali Khaniwale, and Bhushan Vikas, make their presence felt.