Jyotsna Film Productions’ Judgement (Marathi; UA) is the story of a girl who avenges her mother’s murder by bringing the culprit – her father – to book.
Agnivesh Satam (Mangesh Desai) is an IAS officer who ill-treats and physically tortures his wife, Neha (Shweta Pagar), because she doesn’t bear him a son. They have two little daughters, Rujuta and Anahita. Neha is pregnant for the third time and although she has a female foetus in the womb, she lies to her husband for fear of being physically tortured by him. Agnivesh is livid when he gets to know that she had lied to him about the unborn child’s sex.
In a fit of rage, Agnivesh murders Neha. But he passes off the murder as an accidental death. Although Rujuta had been an eye-witness to the murder, she does not reveal anything to the police. Neha’s father (Madhav Abhyankar) suspects his son-in-law but since he has no proof, he takes away his two grand-daughters instead of leaving them in their father’s custody. Agnivesh Satam is, of course, more than happy because he doesn’t have feelings for his daughters. Rujuta tells her grandfather about her mother’s murder but the old man doesn’t deem it fit to go to the police.
Years pass by. Agnivesh Satam had gotten married again. His second wife, Yashwanti (Shilpa Gandhi-Mohite), had borne him a son, Yadunath, who is now a grown-up young man. Rujuta (Tejashree Pradhan) is a lawyer now. Anahita (Shalaka Apte) works with a psychiatrist. Rujuta and Anahita’s grandfather has passed away. They have never met their dad all these years.
One day, Rujuta decides to have the accidental death case of her mother reopened. She drags her own father to court. How does Rujuta prove in court that her father had murdered her mother?
Neela Satyanarayan’s story is not very exciting. Sameer Ramesh Surve has penned a screenplay which doesn’t engage the audience as it appears to be one of convenience. Things look too far-fetched to be believable. The drama is devoid of emotions, so necessary in a film of this kind. There are no light moments too. Romance is missing. Sameer Ramesh Surve’s dialogues are alright.
Tejashree Pradhan acts ably as Rujuta Satam. Mangesh Desai performs well in the role of Agnivesh Satam. Shalaka Apte is alright as Anahita Satam. Madhav Abhyankar makes his presence felt as the grandfather. Shweta Pagar is okay in a brief role as Neha. Pratik Deshmukh does an ordinary job as Yadunath Satam. Shilpa Gandhi-Mohite is so-so as Yashwanti Satam. Satish Salagare acts nicely as advocate Gopal. Mahendra Teredesai is average as the judge. Others lend routine support.
Sameer Ramesh Surve’s direction is below the mark. Naval Shastri’s music and Mandar Cholkar’s lyrics are functional. Nilesh Dahanukar’s background music is commonplace. Nazir Khan’s cinematography is alright. Devdatta Raut’s sets are commonplace. Yogesh Arun Gogate’s editing ought to have been sharper.
On the whole, Judgement is a flop show.
Released on 24-5-’19 at Plaza (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Rajat Enterprises. Publicity: so-so. Opening: weak.