Several times in the life we come across the situations where either we are on receiving end and are seized in a circle of thoughts imposed by others on us or we are also part of that crowd which imposes the thoughts on an individual.
Shekhar Kapur might have felt this when his film “Bandit Queen” was stuck with censor board and lot many objections were raised against the film. Phoolen Devi also might have felt limitation because she was not allowed to see the film before its premier.
Director Anurag Kashyap might have felt it when his first directorial venture “Paanch” was not given a green signal by the censor board and few jurors (members of censor board) were against his film.
Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi both political leaders might have seen both the sides, they were outside the circle when emergency was declared and they were inside the circle when Janta Party Govt. came in to power and mother and son were charged for everything bad under the sun.
We all do it in the family, in school, in offices and in social clubs, internet forums that we form a group to give verdicts and we deny seeing an individual’s point of view.
What we think is right for us and this we do as per our understanding about the life. Some people don’t like a particular religion or a section of society so as soon as their matter is under question these prejudiced people become automatically against them.
We don’t care if an injustice is imposed upon them, because we have so many things in the life to do. Teachers do this when they check the copies of students and if they are in a bad mood then students are bound to get less marks.
Common men have to face this situation in daily life. If policemen are in bed mood and some common men are in their trap then only miracle can save them else they are bound to get at least insult by these powerful group of our society.
Wherever, whoever gets a little power then he stops looking at things with a justified approach and his own biased understanding affects the decisions. We live in a superficial manner and skin remains the centre of attraction for us and we don’t bother what is lying inside. If clothes are not good, person can’t be good. If his face is not liked by us then he is not a good person.
For riches, poor people are almost untouchables and they should live away as that can bring communicable diseases. For poor, riches belong to the section of society that exploits others. Our decisions are biased because our approach is biased. We can see our biased approach through events happening in our own society as these events put a mirror before us.
Be it Salman Khan’s case or Sanjay Datt’s case or recent case of Shilpa Shetty, hardly we opt a rationale approach. We are very eager to hang a person on nail. We don’t care to go little deeper in any matter.
If we don’t like Salman Khan then he is certainly guilty in every case he is trapped in. If we like him then he should be released even if he is guilty of offensive doings.
If a person belongs to our cast, religion and section then we are almost blind towards his doings but if he belongs to other group then he is perfectly suitable to be hanged even if he is caught in a small case of corruption.
We may be having a frustration inside so when such cases come before us, that frustration provokes us to decide against that person. We are in a hurry to take decision because accused fits very well in our disliking. During any riots and attack on institutions etc, we find opportunities to check our attitude but seldom apply an objective and wise approach which is good for the society.
Film “Ek Ruka Hua Faisla” reveals all these things before us. It shows us that impulsive decisions are not good and we have to be objective when important decisions have to be taken.
A young boy has been charged for killing his father and court has appointed a jury of 12 members to decide whether man is guilty and hence deserves a capital punishment or not? Members of Jury are not lawyers but they belong to different sections of society. All the members of Jury are gathered in a closed room. As soon as meeting is started, few of them are eager to seal the fate of the man and 11 people decide that decision to give capital punishment to the accused is perfectly right. He killed his father and he deserves this and he should be hanged.
12th Juror, opposes this decision. Not that he says that accused is innocent; but he starts his arguments that it’s a very sensitive matter, as a person’s life is on stake and jurors should discuss all the factors associated with the case. He is interrupted by most of the jurors as some of them are in a hurry. Somebody has got cinema tickets for the evening show and he has to reach at home at time to pick up his wife and staying in this meeting any longer is a waste of time for him. Another person also has some important meeting to attend. Almost everybody has some excuse or other for going home or else where.
One juror is filled with aghast that how one can kill his own father? He is clear that such person should be killed immediately. 12th Juror tries again and says,” O.K, let’s say he did not kill his father and what is wrong if we discuss the case at least for a little time. I will put up my arguments in favor of the innocence of that accused person and you all may contradict me”.
He starts his arguments and soon most of the jurors are in his trap depending on their resistive power. 12th Juror keeps giving his arguments and tries to re-consider all the facts related to the case and many jurors start taking interest in his arguments. The juror, who has to go to cinema, is frustrated seeing meeting is going on and on. Soon meeting reaches at that interesting point where 12th Juror is supported by 4-5 other jurors.
After a few more minutes and 12th juror is able to successfully convince more jurors in his favor and soon only two jurors are left there in his opposition. 12th Juror enacts the last scene of killing as defined in the police report. He analyses whole situation and proves that the person has not killed his father and police has trapped him in a false case. One elder member of Jury, who is still opposing any kind of argument in the favor of accused, breaks down and he cries and tells all the jurors that his own son insults him and does not take care for him, this man should also have been doing same with his old father and he is certain that he has killed his father.
He sees the image of his cruel son in the accused person and thus wishes him to be hanged. Scene becomes emotional, the elder juror is crying and telling all other jurors, his own pathetic conditions he has to face at his own home.
It’s decided now that accused has not killed his father and all the jurors praise now 12th juror that he and his rationale approach could save the life of an innocent man.
Pankaj Kapur, Annu Kapur, S.M Jaheer (due to Hum Log), Aziz Qureshi (Hum Log), Shailendra Goyal (Wah Janab, a TV serial starring Shekhar Suman and Kiran Juneja), Subiraj (TV serials) and brothers, KK Raina and MK Raina, Deepak Kejrival played the jurors.
Mainly it’s the show of Pankaj Kapur, Annu Kapur and KK Raina. KK Raina plays the 12th Juror and he plays his role very well. His character is a low profiled but down to earth person who is sober in dealing but very clear in his approach.
Pankaj Kapur gives a fantastic performance.
Annu Kapur plays an elderly man and his gestures are wonderful to watch. These two Kapurs raise the standard of acting in the film and steal the show from other actors.
Basu Chaterjee has directed this film.
Later I got to know that this was remake of
No comments:
Post a Comment