Patna Shukla

"Patna Shukla" is a film that stands out not only for its impressive performances but also for its thought-provoking content. In a society rife with corruption and dishonesty across various sectors, the movie sheds light on the different facets of this pervasive issue. While some individuals boldly defend their actions, others resort to desperate measures to conceal their wrongdoing.

Raveena R Tandon and Chandan Roy Sanyal deliver standout performances, adding depth and authenticity to their characters. Their portrayal of individuals grappling with the moral complexities of corruption adds layers of intrigue to the storyline.

The film unfolds as a straightforward courtroom drama with a plot that is both unique and timely. It centers around a marksheet scam orchestrated by a corrupt institution, Bihar University, where underprivileged students' marksheets are illicitly exchanged with those of privileged students. The scam is brought to light when the daughter of an autodriver bravely seeks justice in court, triggering a series of events that expose the depth of corruption within the system.

While the premise of the film is compelling, its execution leaves something to be desired. The treatment of the storyline is dry, and the overall execution feels average. Dialogues lack depth, and courtroom scenes fail to evoke the required intensity to fully engage the audience. However, despite these shortcomings, "Patna Shukla" manages to hold its own as a decent film, thanks to its refusal to indulge in unnecessary melodrama or preachiness.

What sets the film apart is its exploration of a relatively unexplored aspect of corruption-a marksheet scam-against the backdrop of Bihar's societal dynamics. This unique angle adds freshness to the narrative and serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of corruption, even in seemingly mundane aspects of life.

One of the film's strengths lies in its authenticity. The characters feel real, their struggles relatable, and their motivations understandable. This authenticity helps ground the story in reality, making it all the more impactful for viewers.

Despite its shortcomings, "Patna Shukla" succeeds in delivering a thought-provoking message about the importance of standing up against corruption and seeking justice, even in the face of daunting odds. It serves as a reminder that change is possible, but it requires individuals to take a stand and speak out against injustice.

Available on Disney Hotstar, "Patna Shukla" is a film worth watching for its engaging storyline, stellar performances, and timely message. While it may not be perfect, its sincerity and earnestness shine through, making it a valuable addition to the cinematic landscape.

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*

Movie is available on Hotstar.

Before making up my mind to watch it, I checked out its IMDB rating which gave a negative perspective. However, i thought of giving it a try and to find out myself why so low ratings.

If it would have been released like 25-30 years back, or even before, it could have still worked out. Now i am not saying there weren't good court room Hindi dramas available that time, but now things are different; people watch more realistic approach, or if not, adrenaline filled bursts.

I am no lawyer, but whatever i have heard or seen or found, it is a very tough and protocol oriented job. There is a code of conduct and one has to follow it one way or the other. The court decorum has to be maintained, no matter what. This was something in the movie that bothered me the most. One of the lamest, unrealistic, and no-decorum-followed court drama that I ever watched. You need to watch it yourself to understand it in real.

The second problem came with the easiness of the way the prosecutor handled the whole situation. The dealing between a best and an amateur lawyer in the city felt lazy and sluggish. The writers should have watched other court room dramas like Jolly LLB to understand how the heat between lawyers increase tensions in the peoples mind watching it.

The movie already felt like shaping to provide justice to the student. We all know that at the end the outcome should have been what was shown, but the situations to derive it felt lame, boring, melodramatic, and one-sided.

Overall, i will give it 3.

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.

'Patna Shukla' presents Bihar as a backdrop-a state often steeped in stereotypes. The portrayal of lawlessness, bureaucratic chaos, and illogical systems can indeed perpetuate negative perceptions. However, it's crucial to recognize that no community is monolithic. Bihar, like any other region, is multifaceted, with vibrant culture, resilience, and progress.

By focusing solely on the absurdities, 'Patna Shukla' risks reinforcing a single narrative. It's essential to acknowledge the state's rich history, its contributions to literature, art, and social movements. While the film's intent may be satirical, it's crucial to avoid reducing an entire community to caricatures.

And of course, the Plot.. it has no logic whatsoever.

The judge took entire movie to get to the most logical first response.. Get those fffffff copies re checked.