Kanoon (1960) :
Brief Review -
BR Chopra's pathbreaking courtroom drama might never be matched by anyone in Indian cinema. It is a proud thing for me to say that a year before Stanley Kramer made a pathbreaking courtroom drama like "Judgement at Nuremberg," Indian cinema made Kanoon. Interestingly, both films are about the same topics-the sanity and morality of "justice." However, Kanoon races ahead because it adds a sentimental touch to human relations. How many courtroom dramas have the judge as a culprit? This is perhaps the most unique conflict ever seen in courtroom drama. Witness for Prosecution was so unique with the witness being the main culprit. Now just imagine how unique Kanoon is when you know that the judge who is going to declare the verdict and send someone to death is himself the culprit. Talking about human emotions, it's his own future son-in-law who is giving testimony against him. His own educated and sensible daughter is giving fake testimony on the witness stand to save her future husband. The alleged killer himself admits being the real killer and betrays an honest lawyer who is fighting against his loved ones to prove this unknown man's innocence. When you think that this investigation has found a killer and everything's going to end on a sad note with a lecture on "justice," you have a big twist that destroys the entire narrative built so far. The film raises questions about judges, lawyers, witnesses, testimonies, juries, and the sentences passed by the court. I don't really think any film has been so damaging to the courtroom proceedings so far. Chopra's visionary classic is powered by the strong performances of Rajendra Kumar, Ashok Kumar, and Nanda. Kanoon has no songs (the only second Bollywood film by that time to have no songs). Storyline, screenplay, acting, direction, and impact-Kanoon hits all of them on a different level.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
