Why We’re Obsessed With the Courtroom
Courtrooms in India aren’t just about law. They’re about drama, heartbreak, revelation, and sometimes straight-up circus energy. The gavel drops, and suddenly society’s ugliest truths are laid bare. Before Janaki V vs Kerala grabs attention, let’s rewind to the titles that made us sit up, rage-tweet, or whisper to a friend, “You have to watch this one.”
Not a neat list. More like a binge-watcher’s diary of legal stories that still sting.
The One-Man Army (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
First things first—Manoj Bajpayee. The film had him go toe-to-toe with a godman accused of assault, and my god, it burned. He wasn’t flashy, he wasn’t doing heroic monologues; he was ordinary, awkward even. And yet, he bulldozed through the system. Watching him argue in court, you could feel the chill. It was inspired by real cases, which made it heavier. Sirf EK Bandaa Kaafi Hai left you thinking—maybe one person is enough to make a crack in the wall.
When Telugu Got Gritty (Vyavastha)
ZEE5’s Vyavastha didn’t just drop cases into a courtroom; it dragged you into the politics behind them. Lawyers scheming, corporations bending rules, ideals colliding with ambition. It wasn’t the “justice always wins” story. It was: who has power, and who dares to question it. For Telugu viewers, it was a refreshing reminder that courtroom stories don’t have to stay Bollywood-polished—they can speak the dialect of their own soil.
The Army Case That Still Haunts (Court Martial)
Old but gold. If you’ve ever seen Court Martial—the play or its TV version—you know why it still sits in the gut. A soldier on trial for killing his officer. Sounds straightforward, right? Except it wasn’t. It opened the caste wound inside the army, showing discrimination buried under khaki. Watching it decades later, the sting hasn’t dulled. Justice wasn’t just about the verdict; it was about exposing a truth most wanted hidden.
The Trial That Creeped Us Out (Nail Polish)
Arjun Rampal faces Manav Kaul. On paper, it looked like another typical OTT thriller. But Nail Polish messed with your head. Kaul played the accused—too soft-spoken, too ordinary, too believable. And that was the point. You didn’t know whether to pity him or fear him. The courtroom became a stage for psychological horror, and when the truth twisted, you sat there stunned. Not every legal drama needs to scream. Sometimes whispering is scarier.
The One That Made Pankaj Tripathi a Legend (Criminal Justice)
If you ask me, this show put courtroom dramas back on the binge map. Pankaj Tripathi’s Madhav Mishra breaks the smooth hero mold. He shows scruff, grit, and razor-sharp mind. Season after season, he pulled cases apart while cracking jokes under his breath. The brilliance? The show made you see how ordinary people get chewed up by the justice system. It was messy, funny, tragic—sometimes in the same episode.
Delhi’s Legal Circus (Illegal)
Neha Sharma and Piyush Mishra facing off in Illegal gave Delhi courtroom vibes with extra gloss. Sure, it had stylish interiors and sharp suits, but underneath was a swamp of corruption. Mentor vs. mentee, truth vs. ambition. It made you question not just the cases but the system itself. And let’s be real—sometimes the system looked more guilty than anyone on trial.
When Consent Was Screamed Loud (Pink)
Amitabh Bachchan booming “No means no.” You remember that line. Everyone does. Pink wasn’t subtle—it wasn’t trying to be. It shoved the conversation about consent into living rooms that avoided it for years. Taapsee Pannu and the ensemble made you feel the exhaustion of women constantly having to defend their choices. It was a trial in court, yes, but more than that—it was a trial of society’s excuses.
Faith vs. Fear (Mulk)
Rishi Kapoor’s family standing accused of terrorism simply because of religion. Mulk cracked open the conversation about patriotism and prejudice. Taapsee Pannu again—this time defending him. The courtroom scenes weren’t about shouting matches; they were about dignity, the quiet resilience of a man tired of proving loyalty to his own country.
The Greyest Grey (Article 375)
This one hurt. It looked at sexual assault, false accusations, and the fragility of trust. Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha sparred in a trial that didn’t give you clean answers. And maybe that was the point. Because real cases are messy, and sometimes the courtroom doesn’t hand you a hero—it hands you uncomfortable questions you carry home.
The Underdog Lawyer We Cheered (Jolly LLB Series)
Lighten up for a second. Jolly LLB and its sequel weren’t heavy like the others, but they had bite. Arshad Warsi’s clumsy lawyer, Akshay Kumar’s sharper upgrade—they both turned the court into comedy and crusade. You laughed, but you also rooted for the small guy going up against corrupt giants. Sometimes justice comes with a punchline, and India loved it.
The Thunderclap of Rage (Jai Bhim)
And then there’s Jai Bhim. Suriya as the lawyer, tribal rights on the line, a community crushed under false cases. It wasn’t entertainment—it was fury filmed. The courtroom became a weapon, every line of dialogue a bullet. It shook audiences in a way few films ever have.
Why This All Matters Before Janaki V vs Kerala
Put them together—Bandaa’s lone warrior, Vyavastha’s power plays, Court Martial’s caste truth, Nail Polish’s psychological shadows, Pink and Mulk’s societal mirrors, Article 375’s moral maze, Jolly LLB’s laughter with sting, Jai Bhim’s roar. Each one expanded what “courtroom drama” could be.
By the time Janaki V vs Kerala arrives, we’re not looking for neat justice stories anymore. We’re looking for trials that expose us, scare us, even shame us.
Because in India, the courtroom isn’t just a set. It’s the place where our deepest arguments—about faith, love, caste, gender, power—play out. And we can’t look away.
Bio of Author: Gayatri Tiwari is an experienced digital strategist and entertainment writer, bringing 20+ years of content expertise to one of India’s largest OTT platforms. She blends industry insight with a passion for cinema to deliver engaging, trustworthy perspectives on movies, TV shows and web series.
