Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Review: One man army Manoj Bajpayee hits it out of the park in Apoorv Singh Karki's real-life courtroom drama

By Rashita Sahni

on May 21, 2023 03:00:02 PM

Film: Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai

Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Adrija Sinha, Vipin Sharma & Surya Mohan Kulshrestha

Director: Apoorv Singh Karki

Rating: 4 Moons

OTT: ZEE5

Very few a times do we come across real-life courtroom dramas that leave us with a feeling of pride and contentment. Apoorv Singh Karki's Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is one such film. The phenomenal Manoj Bajpayee breathes life into the film and how. He's a one man army and the brilliant actor proves it yet again with this film. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is touted as one of the biggest legal courtroom dramas of the year. The Apoorv Singh Karki directorial, inspired by true events, follows high court lawyer PC Solanki, who single-handedly fights an extraordinary case against the country’s biggest godman for the rape of a minor under the POCSO Act.

The 2-hour-12-minute long film begins with a minor girl Nu (Adrija Sinha) visiting a police station in Delhi to file an FIR of sexual assault against a reputed Baba (Surya Mohan Kulshrestha). Her case is soon transferred to talented lawyer PC Solanki (Manoj Bajpayee) who promises himself to fight her case with pure honesty and dedication. A Shiv bhakt himself, PC Solanki makes sure to face every challenge that's thrown at him with full commitment.

Despite there being a serious fear of his family being attacked by Baba's devotees, PC doesn't give up and fights the case with all his strength. How PC Solanki wins over a 5-year-old battle single-handedly is what makes Bandaa a gripping watch. The film definitely deserves a national award because of the way it has been presented. But it'd be interesting to see if the censor board makes any crucial changes to the well-made film!

In the climax scene, Manoj delivers an outstanding monologue comparing Baba's criminal activities to that of Ravana. He mentions how just like Ravana, baba pretended to be a saint while being behind several ruthless ill acts. In that scene, Manoj steals the show. It wouldn't be wrong to call this one of the best performances of the talented actor. At no point does it feel like Manoj is trying to copy PC Solanki. It feels real and fresh while the actor just keeps the essence of Solanki alive. Manoj's performance will touch your heart.

Kudos to the entire star cast for carrying their characters with so much realism and perfection. Adrija Sinha as Nu successfully translates every emotion that she feels through the screen. Vipin Sharma, Surya Mohan Kulshrestha, Jaihind Kumar and Durga Sharma deliver praiseworthy performances.

Apoorv Singh Karki's direction is impactful, intriguing and hard-hitting. The way he presents the story of Bandaa is commendable. He keeps the film as authentic as it gets and makes sure to keep the right balance between technical courtroom language and taking creative liberty to keep the audience entertained at the same time. Deepak Kingrani's writing is apt and adds a strong layer to the story. Cinematographer Arjun Kukreti showcases the courtroom drama realistically and keeps it interesting. Sumeet Kotian's editing is crispt and to the point. Music by Sangeet-Siddharth and Roy matches the serious tone of the story.