Section 375 Movie Review: Not your typical courtroom drama

Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code: Defines rape as “sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, without her consent, by coercion, misrepresentation or fraud or at a time when she has been intoxicated or duped, or is of unsound mental health and in any case if she is under 18 years of age.”

We watched this movie as it was recommended by home minister. Section 375 is a 2019 Hindi movie featuring Akshaye Khanna ( as senior lawyerTarun Saluja), Meera Chopra (as defense lawyer Anjali Damle), and Richa Chadha (as accuser Hiral Gandhi) and Rahul Bhatt (as accused, Rohan Khurana). Rohan is accused of rape by Hiral, and the movie takes us through the trial, providing flashbacks as those involved in the case provide their recollection of the events surrounding the alleged event.

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Rape is an extremely serious matter in India and the world over. In our country, we have been witnessing with a disturbing frequency, the lackadaisical approach of the bureaucracy and law enforcement following these horrific incidents. Many a time, the victim is humiliated and also blamed by the "torchbearers of Indian culture". This movie attempts to give us a glimpse of the horrendousness surrounding these unfortunate events, but with a different treatment where we slowly question our biases and preconceived notions. I think this movie does a good job of what it intents to do, by not siding with either camp. But what this does to the #MeToo movement, I do not know. 

Themes: 

• How much scope there is for poor evidence collection threatening to wipe out entire cases. 
• Justice and Law. Both need not mean the same thing. Just because the law was followed doesn't mean that the parties involved got justice. 

We're not in the business of justice. We're in the business of law.

• WhatsApp university, twitter university and the pressure on judges. Even before the trial takes place, the country has already decided. Taking sides and getting polarized without understanding the facts / caring to be educated about things. A Molotov cocktail (containing cheap data, a divided electorate, "leaders" bereft of education/ morals/ decency & a corrupt and sold - out media) threatens to engulf our country in flames.

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Akshaye is at his best here, as the lawyer we love to hate. Richa has done a good job, as the eager and idealistic young lawyer. The pace of the movie is good, as the narration makes sure you don't lost interest. The details of the case are revealed layer - by - layer and slowly our biases fade away. It is an engaging watch for sure, which will make you uncomfortable and think about a lot of things.

Check out the trailer here.