पटना शुक्ल

Patna Shuklla (2024) : Movie Review:

After Karrma Calling, Ranveena Tandon again stars in the lead role in Disney Plus Hotstar's original feature, "Patna Shukla." So, let me make it clear at the beginning to avoid further confusion about the title. There is a double L in the title, which stands for "lawyer," as the leading lady is in the role of a lawyer at a district court in Patna. Patna Shuklla is based on a sensitive topic like an educational scam by universities, but the execution is quite below par. The motive is strong, but the storytelling is strictly average. There is an unpredictable twist in the climax, which comes from nowhere and saves the entire film. So, you better watch out for that.

Set in Patna, Patna Shuklla is the story of a lawyer named Tanvi Shukla (Raveena Tandon). Her husband loves her and is proud of her, even though he misbehaves a bit sometimes, internationally. A B. Sc. Third-year student, Rinku (Anushka Kaushik), comes to Tanvi with a case, saying that her marksheet needs to be rechecked. Rinku is confident about getting more than 60% marks in the exam, while her given marksheet shows only 30%. Rinku alleges that the university must recheck her papers, which leads to several revelations about educational scams, marksheet exchanges, and even bribery inside the university. But is there any evidence that can prove Rinku and Tanvi's allegations? Will Tanvi be able to fight powerful scammers as her family also suffers from the heat? Can she save them as well?

Patna Shuklla is your regular courtroom drama where an underdog takes a big case and becomes a giant. We have seen it before in many Bollywood and Hollywood movies. However, the topic here is new and a little sensitive. At first, it seems like there is no case at all, but as we go ahead, there are a lot of exploding details that could help many students. What this film lacks is high-voltage courtroom drama, investigation, arguments, and logical statements. What works on the positive end is the idea of the story and the main motive behind it. The screenplay could have been shorter by 10-15 minutes, making it a solid 2-hour film. What's done is done, and it isn't too wrong, but somewhere you start building up expectations in the first half, which are left somewhat incomplete in the second half.

Raveena has carried the entire film on her shoulders, but it is not enough. The actress, however, does seem pleasant to the eyes. This is sort of a comeback zone for Raveena Tandon with Karrma Calling, Patna Shuklla, and Welcome 3 (upcoming). She is making sure that she enjoys every moment of it. Some of her scenes are really good, while others go flat. Anushka may be a new girl, but she knows how to face a camera. She is confident and gets the accent right. Manav Vij has enough experience on how to play his role, and he'll have you adore his character as a loyal and supportive husband. Watching the late Satish Kaushik is a treat for every cinema lover, and he proves why. I mean, watch out for him, man. Just see how it's done. Chandan Roy Sanyal and Jatin Goswami have also done their parts perfectly, even though there were no variations to them. The supporting caste was pretty okay.

Coming to the technical points, Patna Shuklla looks like a low-budget film for the setups and overall looks. The picturization isn't that great, and on the small screen, it would look even more dull. The cinematography is somewhat decent, while the editing doesn't seem gripping. The screenplay and songs just don't fit well when you can predict the entire drama that's coming after the song. The courtroom scenes could have been presented better, but somehow it can be forgiven because the idea was to show a low-level district court, not a high court or supreme court. Vivek Budakoti and Rajendra Tiwari's joint efforts do provide a watchable drama, but you can't help thinking about how better it could have been with smarter vision and execution. Overall, an average flick with a different content and climax for any courtroom drama you've seen in Bollywood.

RATING - 5/10*

A very simple average courtroom drama but the case is typically unique n new of a kind. Story revolves around a marksheet scam run by a corrupted Bihar University where underprivileged children marksheets are exchanged with privileged students. The scam explodes when daughter of an autodriver reaches court seeking the justice. The treatment of entire movie is dry and execution is very average. The dialogues are very pale n courtroom scenes don't have required intensity but yet quite a decent film as there is no unwanted mirch masala nor film gets preachy anywhere. The main highlight of the movie is revelation of a kind of new scam. Available on Disney Hotstar. My ratings 6/10!

Legal dramas often offer a tantalizing mix of intrigue, moral quandaries, and courtroom theatrics. However, 'Patna Shukla' veers far off course, leaving audiences bewildered and utterly unfulfilled. This cinematic endeavor, purportedly a courtroom drama, fails to deliver even a semblance of coherence or depth.

From the outset, 'Patna Shukla' stumbles, lacking a cohesive plot to anchor its narrative ambitions. The story, if one can call it that, meanders aimlessly, devoid of purpose or direction. Characters drift in and out of scenes, their motivations as murky as the legal proceedings they purportedly navigate.

The courtroom, typically a stage for high-stakes drama and impassioned debates, becomes a mere backdrop for the film's convoluted antics. Instead of the tense exchanges and gripping revelations one might expect, audiences are subjected to a baffling array of disjointed scenes and nonsensical dialogue.

Where 'Patna Shukla' truly falters, however, is in its utter disregard for coherence and logic. Plot points materialize out of thin air, only to vanish just as quickly, leaving gaping holes in the narrative fabric. Attempts at suspense fall flat, as viewers struggle to invest in the fates of characters they scarcely understand.

Despite the valiant efforts of its cast, including performances that deserve better material, 'Patna Shukla' remains a cinematic misfire of epic proportions. Even the most seasoned viewers may find themselves scratching their heads in disbelief, wondering how such a promising premise could go so spectacularly awry.

In the end, 'Patna Shukla' offers little in the way of entertainment or enlightenment. Its one saving grace may be its brevity, sparing audiences prolonged exposure to its bewildering brand of storytelling. With a rating of 1 out of 10, this film serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring filmmakers everywhere: good intentions alone cannot salvage a narrative adrift in the sea of senselessness.

The movie was running fine in the room but all the twist shown are all baseless, there is no basis for all those twist, all my time was wasted watching this movie, i feel that my time has been wasted, the acting is good, the story is rubbish. And the biggest thing is that you don't learn anything from this movie. The movie was running fine in the room but all the twist shown are all baseless, there is no basis for all those twist, all my time was wasted watching this movie, i feel that my time has been wasted, the acting is good, the story is rubbish. And the biggest thing is that you don't learn anything from this movie.

Tanvi Shukla is a lawyer at the lower court and is leading a happy life with her husband and son. One day, Rinki Kumari approaches her to take up her case. Rinki is a 3rd year B. Sc student who believes she had done well yet was failed in the final exam. Tanvi uncovers the truth behind swapping of marks to undeserving candidates and poor underprivileged students being the easy target. Up against the rich and powerful, Tanvi fights for Rinki at the court. Will she be able to get her the justice she deserves and what other secrets get unraveled on the way, forms rest of the story.

The novel story resorts to a pedestrian screenplay filled with several melodramatic moments that make it look like an 90s film. The strength of the film apart from the story being novel is the performances and the actors definitely carry the film through. There is a reason why old school dramas have a way to be captivating even when the writing is deliberate and Patna Shuklla is another example of it. The tactics used by the opponent lawyer and the culprits are as predictable as the leading lady finding a way to continue her fight, yet the court scenes or even the moments her husband supporting her, leave their mark. Overall, Patna Shuklla makes up for a harmless watch, it is old school yet it almost delivers.