Court Kacheri review: A wholesome courtroom drama that hits the right notes!

TVF's Court Kacheri, is a heartwarming yet hilarious legal drama exploring the classic father-son clash over legacy, identity, and independence!

Like anyone else, my idea of things I haven’t experienced has been largely shaped by the films or shows I grew up watching. I was beyond convinced that lawyers could roar in the court like Sunny Deol in Damini and execute the kind of wild theatrics Govinda implies in Kyunki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta. However, thanks to the live court proceedings available now, along with the desh ki janta, I am more aware of the sharp contrast between reel and real world of justice. And if you’re someone like me who prefers entertainment with realism, especially while consuming OTT, TVF’s new legal drama Court Kacheri should find a place in your watchlist for the extended weekend. 

Helmed by Ruchir Arun, Court Kacheri is a quintessential TVF production that narrates a father-son story marked by relatable themes of identity, legacy, and finding your voice, amid the chaos of a small town courtroom. Set in Sarjanpur, the legal drama centres around Param (Ashish Verma), who is caught in his father’s towering legal legacy, and is conflicted between choosing to rebel or undertaking responsibility. The series opens with Param explaining his childhood experiences as the son of the city's most respected lawyer and why he averses the idea of stepping into his shoes.

We are then introduced to Advocate Harish Mathur (Pavan Malhotra), the ‘Bhagwan’ of Sarjanpur court, who is shown to rip apart his opponent with his confidence, razor-sharp arguments, and intimidating presence that often make the entire court go gaga over him. Advocate Mathur wants his son to follow his footsteps, while Param, on the other hand, hatches a plan to move abroad, abandoning it all. Besides the two, the show also features another key character, Param's friend and Advocate Mathur’s loyal apprentice, Suraj, who is contemplating practising law independently. The realisations and experiences of these three characters while working on a divorce case entail the rest of the series. 

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The first episode sets the tone for the series impressively well with its reliability, humor, and emotional depth, and you know you are in for a coming-of-age legal drama that has TVF written all over it! It's simple, sharply written, and captures the clash of ideas between characters who are infact, right at their place and that's why this series will resonate with a lot of viewers. At the heart of it, Court Kacheri is a father-son story, and I loved the way it has been handled in the show. As someone hailing from a typical desi family, the dynamics and conflicts between the two Mathurs felt familiar. There are no dramatic outbursts, animated confrontations or overly emotional conversations between the two, and I feel that’s where the makers truly hit it out of the park when it comes to the reliability factor. While father-daughter relationships are often marked by sweet gestures and overt declarations of affection, things get a little complicated when it comes to a father-son equation. At least in a typical North Indian setting, the bond is slightly formal, hesitant, and there's little to no scope for explicit expressions of emotions and this has been captured beautifully well in the show, even in scenes where Param and Advocate Mathur are at their most vulnerable.

Ashish Verma as Param, delivers a sincere performance as the silent rebel who is weighed down by the absence of his mother, everyone's expectations of him and the strong desire to carve his own identity. Pavan Malhotra as Advocate Mathur, packs a punch as a formidable lawyer and a single parent who only wants the best for his son. The veteran actor balances the sharp wittedness of a lawyer and the vulnerabilities of a single father with great ease and conviction. Puneet Batra as Suraj Beriya, an emerging lawyer who is ambitious yet faithful to his mentor, Advocate Mathur, too lends solid support.

The show also offers balanced social commentary on the current conversations concerning marriage, divorce, and the moral and legal aspects of both. The show is progressive of the fact that every character is handled with dignity and empathy and that's what makes it so wholesome and responsibly executed. In totality, Court Kacheri is a courtroom drama with a lot of heart that has the right dose of everything, right from relatable emotions to light-hearted humor! 

Court Kacheri is now streaming on SonyLiv!

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