Criminal Justice: A Family Matter (Season 4)
Introduction
For the past three seasons, the template that the Hindi show Criminal Justice relies on is pretty straight forward – a murder, prime suspects, investigation and a courtroom case to spill the beans! In that regard, the fourth season of Criminal Justice – A Family Matter isn’t much different. The standard tropes of a classical whodunnit are evident from the word go when the cold open of the show is a character drenched in blood while holding a corpse in his hands. The lines are tactfully etched out on who the accused is while dwelling into a bit of a backstory to lay out the character dynamics of the characters. And one key differentiator in all seasons of Criminal Justice, that ultimately binds the narrative and keeps the mystery alive until the end, is with respect to its characters that provide texture and thought to the drama despite the writing following a stardard ‘whodunnit’ trope! And one again, the characterization remains the main USP in the latest season of Criminal Justice, that maintain the intrigue and the tensions of the whodunnit in this rather absorbing drama.
Story & Screenplay
Note – I shall be deliberately keeping things vague here, just so the mystery isn’t spilled given how only 3 episodes are out for public consumption (although the review is of the whole season comprising of 8 episodes).
Written by Harman Wadala, Sandeep Jain and Sameer Mishra, the fourth season of Criminal Justice has a connecting thread with respect to its principal characters – Madhav Mishra (Pankaj Tripathi) has now established a small lawfirm of his own while being the face of the common man in search for justice. In an early scene, you see him participating in a negotiation through a calm demeanor that impresses his client in order to even gift him a swanky car for his efforts (despite the client also wanting him to maintain the face of a common man; therein lies the satire). To give him company is his wife Ratna (Khushboo Atre), and her brother Deep (Aatm Prakash Mishra) who is assisting Madhav along with an aspiring but more sombre lawyer Shivani (Barkha Singh), much to the dismay of the latter’s lawyer mother Mandira (Mita Vasisht). Clearly, there lies a playful banter within the group with Shivani and Deep competing for ‘spots’ while a sense of tension brews between Shivani and her mother.
The characterization with respect to the core of the case is also interesting – you are introduced to Raj Nagpal (Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub) who is a terrific surgeon while being very particular about handling his patients. But on the personal front, you definitely see him strained and partly struggling to maintain relationships around him. He is in a relationship with a nurse Roshni (Asha Negi) while sharing a strained bond with his now separated wife Anju (Surveen Chawla). Additionally, you see the warm bond that he shares with his daughter Ira (Khushi Bhardwaj), a character suffering from the Asperger’s syndrome. The dynamics here is such that it is almost predictable of a tragedy waiting to unfold here, with the only question arising on who would eventually be the victim – an answer that is revealed at the start of the season.
While the standard tropes with respect to the investigation begins, firstly with respect to sub-inspector Gauri (Kalyanee Mulay) and later with respect to Senior inspector Harsh Pradhan (Ajeet Singh Palawat), the nature itself is absorbing. What seems like a pretty straight forward case, does turn complex due to the focus on the smaller details that invariably does point its needle of suspension on multiple characters. There is texture to the drama even as Madhav instructs his client Raj, to behave a certain way in court in order to gain sympathy and brownie points from the judge. There is also a deliberate attempt at breaking the grammer with the group of Madhav Mishra indulging in sprouts of humour that eases out the tension, before recalibrating the narrative towards the case at hand.
The series is essentially divided into two halves – the first half is dedicated to the ongoing investigation that transpires, leading to multiple twists and turns in a case that is seemingly straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. And you know that there are different threads that will be originated with respect to multiple characters and events, even when the focus hinges on finding the murder weapon. The latter in itself was a far-fetched plot given how the drama was staged in that passage of play, something that felt a little unconvincing on how easily things panned out. I also felt a lack of inventiveness in this phase, that kind of allowed a few lags to creep in, while literally being repetitive in nature. Having said that, the investigation does score in its lighter moments featuring Madhav and his group who also venture out and interacts with characters who would easily double up as prime suspects!
The second part of the show is where the courtroom case kickstarts, in what is a three-fold fight for justice – featuring Madhav who is fighting for the justice of his client Raj, Lekha (Shweta Basu Prasad), Madhav’s old nemesis making a return and representing the family of the deceased victim, and Mandira representing her client Anju. The lines are clearly demarcated and drawn out with the focus being on the quest for the truth, in a vantage point drama that unfolds while utilizing the Rashomon effect (partly). And because this is a three way tie, it almost represented a tri-nation cricket tournament fighting amongst themselves for the coveted trophy. The arguments presented have skewed bouts of truth, that significantly blur the drama while making things interesting and quite absorbing. At times, you do sense that the truth is just round the corner before a rebuttal that shifts the momentum of the case.
The proceedings remain tense even as characters remain grey and the truth far from white, that results in a gripping watch. I also liked how the tone was pretty consistent during the courtroom scenes, that didn’t break away from the tension mounting between the four walls. That said, the writers manage to hold onto the emotional quotient of the drama too, a thread that is maintained as an undercurrent. This ultimately results in a twisted revelation that might seem simplistic to begin with, but it eventually grows on you while having a strong emotional core. And that once again sums up the narrative that is a winner in the Criminal Justice franchise, wherein the unique character dynamics overshadow the standard tropes of the whodunnit template!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are pretty crisp and sharp while also deliberately breaking the grammer at all the right places to add a different dimension to the proceedings. This was important but also tricky given how the idea remained on not disconnecting the viewers from the principal plot, while offering them only momentary respite from the heavy-handedness of the drama, something that was done to precision. The BGM is pulsating and almost always manages to keep you connected in the drama and its characters. I also liked how the BGM played a big part during filler scenes, that were essentially used as a bridge from one scene to another. The tension never eased out because of the score! The cinematography comprises of frames that maintain a sombre mood throughout the narrative, be it through sombre shades of colour with respect to the interiors (kudos to a solid production team) or the shades donned by the characters (kudos to the amazing costumes department), all of which correctly creates a moody ambience for the drama. Barring a few lags in the second act, the editing does its job in maintaining levels of tension in the narrative, even while being tactful of retaining the strong emotional core of the drama. Director Rohan Sippy manages to score with his characterization that once again has a unique flavour to showcase in the narrative. This factor papers over the stereotypical cracks of the genre, while retaining the freshness of the franchise, wherein the director maintains a pretty firm grip on the narrative. The direction remains pretty impressive even while tactfully breaking the grammer in multiple scenes at a few junctures, while still maintaining the sombre atmospherics of the drama.
Performances
The performances are fabulous here by the members of the cast. Krishna Solgama as Shilpa, Nysha Bijlani as Fatima and Bidisha Ghosh as Madhu have their moments to shine. Amruta Sant as Kamala and Sohaila Kapur as Gurmeet are characters with varied personalities, with the former being more impulsive and the latter having a calm demeanor. And both these talented actors add distinct flavours to the narrative. Likewise Tanay Aul as Digvijay and Navin Talreja as Arsh are also characters that are poles apart, and both manage to impress with impulsive and calculated performances respectively. Kalyanee Mulay as SI Gauri is quite sincere and earnest while leaving a lasting impression. Ajeet Singh Palawat as Inspector Harsh Pradhan is natural to the core and really manages to leave a mark. Khushboo Atre as Ratna is a heartwarming and a supremely positive character and she does a tremendous job. She will always put a smile on your face, every time she comes onscreen.
Aatm Prakash Mishra as Deep is pretty solid here. His subtle banter with the protagonist and members of his group, was a treat to watch and he does a fabulous job here. Shweta Basu Prasad as Advocate Lekha is brilliant and the sheer confidence which she brings onscreen is wonderful to witness. She is an absolute treat to watch. Mita Vasisht as Mandira is dignified with her portrayal of a lawyer, and her minimalistic approach is for everyone to witness and study. Barkha Singh as Shivani is in top form too, showcasing restraint during her interactions with multiple characters while also being assertive with her pointers. She was wonderful to witness here.
Asha Negi as Roshni showcases a range of emotions in a limited screen time, something that is a mark of a solid actor. She definitely manages to impress while playing with her body language and expressions that signify her pain and trauma. Khushi Bhardwaj as Ira delivers a fabulous performance with respect to her character that suffers from Asperger’s syndrome. Her blank stares with a rhythmic dialogue delivery was not only convincing as an ailing character, but also enough to develop a sense of empathy for the character. This was a top drawer performance by a young actor who is supremely talented, and someone who will continue to grow from here (as long as she keeps her head on her shoulders and keeps working hard).
Surveen Chawla as Anju is wonderfully well restrained and has a strong emotional core with respect to her character. There are moments of helplessness that she beautifully expresses through her wonderfully expressive eyes, that always have a story to tell. Her poise though isn’t compromised, and the softness of her character is a highlight as well. Her performance is supremely dignified wherein she shines through and through. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub as Raj is natural to the core in a character that isn’t necessarily affable. You are witness to certain traits in his character (like that of toxic masculinity or of an alpha male with his partners) that make him flawed as a person, and yet his performance evokes a sense of empathy which was quite the talent that the actor possesses. His warm bond with his daughter makes you want to root for him while also being skewed about him being the prime accused in the case. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub definitely hits the bullseye with this conflicted character and makes for a solid impression.
And there is something about Pankaj Tripathi and his effortless approach to his characters. As Madhav Mishra, he is seldom hyper and his calm presence just brought so much assurance to the drama. He is spectacular and absolutely owns the stage in every frame without even trying too hard! And the humour that he tactfully injects in a few scenes before recalibrating to the case, is a sign of a great actor quietly working his magic onscreen!
Conclusion
(All 8 episodes review; full season review) – The fourth season of Criminal Justice is an absorbing courtroom drama with solid performances that makes for quite an absorbing watch. And the freshness yet again lies in its characterization that papers over the stereotypical tropes of the genre, while allowing the drama to blossom in its own capacity. Available on Jiohotstar.