System Review: Jyothika is the only saving grace in this lackluster courtroom drama
Despite my best efforts to craft a compelling argument that Sonakshi Sinha and Jyothika starrer System is a well-crafted and engaging courtroom drama, I would likely fail to make a convincing case from the outset, as the reality is that 'System' is a poorly written and disjointed film, with Jyothika's performance being its sole redeeming quality.
Sonakshi Sinha plays a rookie prosecutor Neha Rajvansh, who has been asked by her father and reputed lawyer Ravi Rajvansh (Ashutosh Gowarikar) to win 10 cases to be worthy of joining his law firm. He is of the opinion that, despite being his daughter, she must show her capabilities to get a position in his law firm. When Neha begins her journey, she receives support from a stenographer, Sarika Rawat (Jyothika), in litigating her cases. What began as an accidental encounter gradually evolves into a friendship between two women from different backgrounds, particularly in terms of their financial and social standing. Neha, the daughter of a distinguished lawyer in Delhi, leads a life of luxury, whereas Sarika stays in a small house in a chawl with her wheelchair-bound husband Laxman (Nishant Singh), who was involved in an accident four years ago. Sarika also has a daughter who is smart and intelligent. To fund her daughter's education, Sarika works as a private tutor. As Neha's career as a lawyer appears to be progressing smoothly, she undertakes a case against wealthy builder and businessman Vikram Bajral (Vijaykant Kohli), who is accused of killing a young social media influencer, Inaaya Kothari. Notably, her father serves as Vikram's lawyer. As the battle between the two opposing lawyers intensifies, the relationship between Neha and her father becomes increasingly strained, and in this battle, Neha starts to question the true meaning of justice, ultimately realizing that the court's purpose is not to deliver justice, but rather to render a verdict.
Considering Indian citizens’ trust in India’s judicial system is on the decline and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s ‘System’ couldn’t have come at a better time. It is heartening to see that if in fact justice is not always served in our real world, it can be done in the realm of cinema. Although ‘System’ tries to highlight the social divisions that affect justice, but as a courtroom drama it ultimately fails due to a flawed narrative structure and a badly written screenplay by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari Harman Baweja and Arun Sukumar.
'System' relies too heavily on the well-known courtroom thriller clichés, spending an excessive amount of time—nearly forty to forty-five minutes—developing Neha's career path before diving into the main plot, in which she takes on a case against a powerful and wealthy businessman while juggling a complex familial dynamic with her father, who will do whatever it takes to win. As a result, the first 40 minutes start to seem excessively long, especially because it becomes clear that a number of the cases that Neha successfully litigated at the beginning were essentially unnecessary and didn't really advance her character. That's why we begin to feel disconnected from Neha and her motivation to take on this case. The stiffness of certain scenes, such as those at the bar with her boyfriend or when she shares her selfies from the court, feels forced and renders the viewing experience tiresome. The arguments between the two lawyers follow a familiar pattern seen in courtroom drama films, but this film had a unique opportunity to add depth to these arguments by depicting the emotional confrontation between father and daughter in court, yet it falls short of delivering the expected emotional impact. Upon reflection, a significant portion of the scenes in the movie appear to be pointless additions once the true reason is revealed. Furthermore, the film's dialogue is another notable flaw, with most conversations feeling flat and lacking impact, even during heated exchanges between father and daughter in court.
Sarika's character proves to be a pivotal factor in maintaining audience engagement with the movie. While certain scenes in the middle section, where Neha seeks to uncover the past of a social media influencer and her connection to the builder, conform to a familiar narrative structure seen in numerous films, they ultimately fail to deliver the expected level of intrigue and suspense. Nonetheless, it is Sarika's financial and social struggles that lend specific scenes a sense of authenticity. The final 20 minutes, where her character assumes a more prominent role, feature noteworthy scenes that thoughtfully examine the concepts of justice and verdict, underscoring the significant disparity between the two.
Jyothika is the redeeming factor in this dull and poorly scripted film, as her performance is the highlight of many scenes. She effectively portrays the vulnerability of a woman whose husband is now in a wheelchair, and she has become the primary breadwinner of the house. There are several instances where she attempts to conceal her pain while interacting with Neha, and Jyothika's nuanced performance enhances those scenes. Sonakshi Sinha also strives to add complexity to her character, but her performance often appears forced and unnatural, particularly in the beginning. However, in the final act, we see Neha's vulnerable side, and Sonakshi gradually regains her composure. Ashutosh Gowarikar provides a satisfactory performance whenever he appears on screen, although the role is not particularly challenging. Vijaykant Kohli, Nishant Sen, Sayandeep Sen, Gaurav Pandey, Adinath Kothare, and Freya Kothari have minor roles, but they fulfill their obligations as required.
Despite a solid premise, 'System' ultimately proves to be a lackluster and poorly written courtroom drama.
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jyothika, Ashutosh Gowarikar
Writers: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Harman Baweja, Arun Sukumar
Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
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