CASTE, IDENTITY AND JUSTICE IN A CINEMATIC FOLD

NAME-NIKITA LALCHANDANI
STUDENT ID- 22011514
BBALLB E

In a country where caste has been deeply entrenched in society for centuries, the struggle for
equal representation and the dismantling of caste-based discrimination still continue to be a
pressing issue in modern-day India. We appear to have reached a dead-end six decades later
where society is split into two unequal and implacably opposed sections. 1 Court, directed by
Chaitanya Tamhane, is a movie which strongly reflects casteism and our country’s judiciary
and the societal systems that underpin it. The movie talks about the prosecution of Narayan
Kamble, an elderly folk musician accused of instigating a sewage worker to commit suicide
with one of his songs. This movie talks about justice, inequality and social differentiation at
its core. Tamhane shows the Indian court system as a maze that is often unreachable to
common folks throughout the film. This is displayed by the character of Narayan Kamble,
who is shown as a humble and sincere artist. Kamble cannot afford a lawyer, so he is forced
to represent himself, putting him at a major disadvantage. In contrast, the prosecution is
represented by an ambitious lawyer who is well-versed in the complexities of the judicial
system and knows how to use them. This power disparity is a constant subject throughout the
film, highlighting how the justice system is frequently skewed in favour of the powerful. The
film also highlights the linguistic and cultural divide between the English-speaking elite and
the rest of the population, which is further emphasized through the interactions between the
judge and the court stenographer. The stenographer, who is portrayed as a lower-class
worker, is not able to communicate with the judge in English and is often dismissed by him
which portrays how fluency in a language has become a basis of differentiation in our
society. For instance, kids who were fluent and well-versed in the English language were
automatically considered higher and more intelligent in some way regardless of the fact that
they barely had knowledge about what they actually spoke.

1
DESHPANDE, SATISH. “Caste and Castelessness: Towards a Biography of the ‘General Category.’” Economic
and Political Weekly, vol. 48, no. 15, 2013, pp. 32–39. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23527121. Accessed
19 Apr. 2023.
Tamhane also explores the theme of social inequality through the character of Kamble.
Kamble is a Dalit, or untouchable, which is the lowest caste in the Hindu caste system.
Throughout the film, Tamhane portrays the discrimination that Kamble faces on a daily basis,
which is often subtle but pervasive. For example, Kamble is not allowed to enter the
apartment complex of the deceased sewage worker because of his caste, and he is constantly
reminded of his place in society by those around him. This discrimination is also reflected in
the courtroom, where Kamble is not taken seriously by the judge and the prosecution because
of his caste. The film depicts how caste and class discrimination is strongly ingrained in
Indian society and how it impacts people's lives. The suicide of a sewer worker, which is the
basis of the lawsuit against Narayan Kamble, is the product of institutional oppression and
prejudice. The film also depicts how the legal system is frequently inaccessible to
marginalised populations, and how trials can drag on for years, denying victims and their
families justice. “Even though much work needs to be done; courts in India are shut for a
long period during the year. Could the activities of the Indian courts be brought under the
ambit of the Essential Services Maintenance Act? This might speed up the process of
delivering justice. Another reason for judicial delays is the snail’s pace at which proceedings
progress, partially due to the disparity in the ratio between the number of judges and the
population.”2 The portrayal of the Indian legal system in this movie is also something that
needs to be taken into consideration. The movie highlights the inefficiencies of the legal
system and how it impacts ordinary citizens. The case drags on for years without any
significant progress, and the audience gets a glimpse of how the Indian legal system works.
The power dynamics within the Indian state are another key issue in the film. Tamhane
emphasises how the state frequently uses the legal system to maintain its authority over
civilians. This is represented by the character of the public prosecutor, who appears to be
more concerned with obtaining a conviction than with discovering the truth. The
prosecution's case is predicated on the notion that Kamble's song inspired the sewage worker
to commit suicide, and they are unwilling to entertain any other possibility. This reflects the
state's greater desire to suppress dissent and maintain control over its citizens.

The movie Court can also be interrelated with the novel named ‘accidental death of an
Anarchist’ by Dario Fo. The movie talks about the corrupted police force of the country and

2
Chatterji, Shoma. “India Together: The Story That Tells You What Our Courts Are Really Like - 28 April 2015.”
India Together: The Story That Tells You What Our Courts Are Really Like - 28 April 2015, 28 Apr. 2015,
https://indiatogether.org/film-review-court-by-chaitanya-tamhane-reviews.
class oppression. The play suggests that there are many layers to reality. We never learn what
definitively happened the night of the anarchist's death. 3 Similarly, Nutan (the public
prosecutor) fails to even consider the other possible reasons for the sewage worker’s death. It
might be possible that he had not taken proper precautions as his wife said or his leg might
have slipped that day. There can be many possible reasons and layers to the reality of what
might have happened. Fo saw the flaws in a capitalist society that depends on the
stratification of its classes. Even if lower-class witnesses are less reliable, he points out that it
is the inequity of the class system which makes them so: "Can't afford vitamins, protein,
organic honey or calcium phosphate to keep your memory sharp? Well, hard lines, I'm the
judge and I'm turning you down, you're not up to it, you're a second-class citizen". In this
way, Fo uses the Maniac to express his own anti-capitalist sentiments. Similarly, another
critical theme in the movie Court is the exploitation of the lower castes. The movie highlights
the issue of caste discrimination in India and how it affects people's lives. The character of
Narayan Kamble is from a lower caste, and the authorities accuse him of inciting a man from
his caste to commit suicide. The movie portrays how the authorities target lower-caste
individuals and how the caste system operates in India. The film's portrayal of caste
discrimination is realistic and unflinching, and it exposes the inherent biases and prejudices in
Indian society.

The movie also delves into the issue of freedom of expression in India. The character of
Narayan Kamble is a folk singer who sings about social issues and injustice. His songs are
critical of the government and the establishment, and they make the authorities
uncomfortable. The authorities accuse him of inciting people to commit suicide, but in
reality, they are trying to silence his voice. The movie highlights the issue of censorship in
India and how it is used to suppress dissenting voices. Narayan Kamble's songs are often
critical of the government and its policies, and he is accused of inciting violence through his
lyrics. The movie shows how the state uses its power to silence dissenting voices and how the
justice system is complicit in this act. The movie highlights the importance of free speech and
the need to protect it in a democracy. Narayan Kamble's arrest and subsequent trial bring to
light the issue of censorship and how it can be used to suppress voices that challenge the
status quo4. Freedom of expression is increasingly under threat in many parts of the world,
3
Sherwood, Kristin. McKeever, Christine ed. "Accidental Death of an Anarchist Themes". GradeSaver, 27
December 2014 Web. 19 April 2023
4
’Noorani, A. G. “Films and Free Speech.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 43, no. 18, 2008, pp. 11–12.
JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40277656. Accessed 19 Apr. 2023.
and the movie's commentary on censorship and the need to protect free speech is relevant
now more than ever. Social injustice, whether based on caste, race, or class, continues to
affect people's lives, and the movie's portrayal of the systemic nature of discrimination is a
reminder that there is still a long way to go in achieving equality. Power dynamics are also
relevant today, with the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals and
corporations, leading to an unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. The movie's
commentary on the need to address power imbalances is significant in today's world. The
state and its machinery are portrayed as formidable forces capable of crushing dissenting
voices. The issue of nationalism is also explored in the movie. The authorities accuse
Narayan Kamble of being anti-national and inciting people to revolt against the government.
The movie shows how the authorities use nationalism as a tool to silence dissent and suppress
free speech. It highlights how nationalism can be used to justify oppression and how it can be
used to divide people along religious and ethnic lines.The film depicts how the prosecution
utilises its power to harass and intimidate Narayan Kamble and his counsel, Vinay Vora.
Vinay Vora, who comes from an upper-middle-class family, frequently disagrees with the
court's methods, which favour the wealthy and privileged. The film focuses on the unequal
power relations in Indian society and how they affect people's access to justice.

The movie highlights the issue of the urban-rural divide in India. The character of Vinay
Vora is from the city, and he is unfamiliar with rural life. The movie contrasts the life of the
urban elite with that of the rural poor. It shows how the city is disconnected from the rural
areas and how the rural population is often neglected by the government. The movie explores
the theme of social injustice. Narayan Kamble belongs to the Dalit community, which is often
marginalized in Indian society. The movie shows how discrimination based on caste and class
is deeply ingrained in Indian society and how it affects people's lives. The sewage worker's
suicide, which forms the basis of the case against Narayan Kamble, is a result of systemic
oppression and discrimination. The movie also shows how the justice system is often
inaccessible to marginalized communities, and the trials drag on for years, denying justice to
the victims and their families which has been talked about in the paragraphs above. The
character of Narayan Kamble is from a lower caste and lives in poverty. He is a victim of the
system that is rigged against him. The film emphasises how society frequently ignores and
forgets the poor and marginalised. It shows how wealth and privilege can influence the legal
system and how justice is often reserved for the rich and the powerful.

In conclusion, in today’s daytime, this movie stands as an exemplary creation which speaks a
lot about the role of the justice system in upholding the law and delivering justice. The court
proceedings are shown as slow, bureaucratic, and often nonsensical. The court's procedures
are often confusing and intimidating, and Vinay Vora, despite being a lawyer, is often at a
loss when it comes to navigating the system. It shows how the justice system is often used as
a tool to suppress dissent and how it can be reformed to ensure that justice is served. The
movie highlights the need for reform in the justice system and how it can be made more
accessible and efficient to the common people regardless of the class differences in society as
the judiciary serves as a platform where we fight for an egalitarian society, approach for
redressal and it should not be the place where a citizen has to fight for its identity and to be
treated as an equal Thus, the movie Court brings the contentious but significant questions of
caste and Dalit identity into the cinematic fold.5

WORKS CITED

5
VENKATESAN, SATHYARAJ, and RAJESH JAMES. “Casting Caste: Dalit Identity, Papilio Buddha, and Malayalam
Cinema.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 52, no. 49, 2017, pp. 48–52. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/26697952. Accessed 19 Apr. 2023.
DESHPANDE, SATISH. “Caste and Castelessness: Towards a Biography of the ‘General
Category.’” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 48, no. 15, 2013, pp. 32–39. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23527121. Accessed 19 Apr. 2023.

Chatterji, Shoma. “India Together: The Story That Tells You What Our Courts Are Really
Like - 28 April 2015.” India Together: The Story That Tells You What Our Courts Are Really
Like - 28 April 2015, 28 Apr. 2015, https://indiatogether.org/film-review-court-by-chaitanya-
tamhane-reviews.

Sherwood, Kristin. McKeever, Christine ed. "Accidental Death of an Anarchist Themes".

GradeSaver, 27 December 2014 Web. 19 April 2023

Noorani, A. G. “Films and Free Speech.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 43, no. 18,
2008, pp. 11–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40277656. Accessed 19 Apr. 2023

VENKATESAN, SATHYARAJ, and RAJESH JAMES. “Casting Caste: Dalit Identity,

Papilio Buddha, and Malayalam Cinema.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 52, no. 49,
2017, pp. 48–52. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26697952. Accessed 19 Apr. 2023.