No One Killed Jessica

A year back when I first watched Udaan, I loved the screenplay. Each dialogue or the lack of it was beautifully scripted. A rare film, were silence had been intelligently and judiciously used. However, I didn’t think it was a contender for awards, not because I doubted its credibility but I didn’t think that we, the audience ,were ready to vote it over commercially bigger hits like ‘My Name is Khan’ or Chulbel Pandey. But I was wrong! By winning the title of the ‘Best film of the Year’ Star Screen Awards, has given a new ray of hope to the small fish in shark valley.

Similarly, a year back when I happened to snoop on the script of ‘No One Killed Jessica’ i didn’t think, if, the film was made, it would do well. For the largely aware, the story would have been emotional but would lack any element of surprise that masses would pay multiplex fees for. This Friday I was proved wrong again!
The hard facts of India’s most read case was well known by many but Rajkumar Gupta (the fame of Aamir), has successfully managed to recreate a heady mix of reality and drama once again in ‘No One Killed Jessica’. Jessica Lall was shot at point blank and brutally murdered over refusing a drink at an uptown eatery in Delhi. The film refreshes the mockery of the legal procedure, the loopholes in the policing system, the corruption in the power circles, and the vulnerability of the common Indian.
”Delhi is about power, aur takat sirf takat wallon ke paas hoti hai, aam aadmi ke paas hoti hai to, sirf usse sehne ki taakat.”

Despite a known story, what will make people sit up is the simplicity in treatment. The director stayed very close to reality and facts without sensationalizing for the demand of a hit. There was no over dramatization of events. With such a powerful star attraction, the film I believe, was treading on a very thin line. It could have easily become one about two feisty women, about Rani and Vidya and their struggle for justice. Instead it remained true to intent, without being over powered by its star factor, it was about Jessica, an awakening - for justice, it was about the whole nation coming together as one. It was about reinstating belief .Empathy, anger, betrayal, pride, the film has many such emotional moments as it essays an 8 yr journey of Sabrina’s fight, how in the interim her family crumbles under the weight of a country’s red tape judiciary, her loosing hope and herself along the way.

Vidya Balan executed the character of Sabrina Lall beautifully. Her ordinariness right from the first time she received a call informing her that Jessica has been shot, to the numerous visits made to the witnesses and police, the scene where she realizes Jessica is not breathing to the scene where she lets out her frustration on the terrace. Her losing hope in the system when Manu Sharma is aquitted, to losing hope in life, until her face off with Meera, Vidya Balan makes you feel Sabrina’s pain to the farthest extent possible. Today even after 11 yrs, while watching the candle march on screen, a hundred hearts walked with Jessica, some happy that she rests in peace, while some still burning for other fighting souls. It raised the all critical question in the minds of many living in a power explosive society like today’s, what is the price of one’s life? How cheap?
Rani Mukherjee playing the fiesty Meera Gaity proved that she is not ready to be written off just yet.
A cussing fireball reporter from NDTV, decided to challenge the judiciary system and its loopholes when 300 eye witnesses present when the fatal bullet was fired on the night of 29th April 1999, all saw nothing!!

Actually, not much can be said when describing the performance of two veterans like Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan. Both brilliant actors and nothing less than the top notch performance is expected. They did just that, delivered on the expected. Unfortunately none raised the bar. Then many may argue that maybe that’s not what the role required. As a friend rightly stated Rani’s performance will win the masses while Vidya’s will woo the classes - she will emerge as the darling of directors and critics alike.
A special mention should go out to the entire supporting cast of NO One Killed Jessica. Characters portraying Jessica, her parents, Manu Sharma, Vikram etc they’ve all done their part of justice to the role.

Amit Trivedi with every film challenges himself. His un-contemporary composition of ‘Delhi’ and ‘Ali –re’ leave you stumped with his signature funk.

No One Killed Jessica, for me was a tribute to the final verdict, convicting Manu Sharma to life imprisonment for the murder of model, Jessica Lall. Justice had been denied, but the film reinstates, we don’t have to be ok with it.