You’ve seen versions of this story before, but probably not in this manner. The 2016 Bollywood film, Rustom, starring Akshay Kumar was based on the same case, but it was a loose and fictionalized adaptation. ALTBalaji’s The Verdict: State vs. Nanavati at the very onset claims to be an accurate retelling of one of the most controversial cases in Indian history.
In 1959, a Naval Officer, Commander K.M. Nanavati (Manav Kaul), came home to find his wife (Elii Avram) having an affair with another man (Viraf Patel). In a fit of rage, he went and shot this man who happened to be a businessman and then went on to confess his crime to the police. What followed is a long and convoluted trial, including some of the biggest names in society, K.M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra.
The show starts off in present day when renowned lawyer (now deceased) Ram Jethmalani, played by an electric Sumeet Vyas, who is being interviewed by a journalist about the case. We are introduced to the other characters quickly, Makrand Deshpande who plays the public prosecutor, Angad Bedi, the defence lawyer, Saurabh Shukla, the editor of Blitz and Kubbra Sait, sister of the deceased.
As the drama unfolds, you are taken back into the world of 50s Bombay, with meticulously designed sets and the creation of a world that is now long gone. The performances in particular stand out as the best part of the show – Sumeet Vyas and Makrand Deshpande especially steal the show. Every scene they are in is a treat to watch.
The weakest link of the show is the screenplay. The courtroom sequences in particular could have been made more interesting. With source material as fascinating as this, the show could have been made even more gripping and it seems to lose momentum in certain places. You lose interest every once in a while, and that’s heart-breaking for a show that brings together some of the most talented actors in the country.
Watch The Verdict: State vs. Nanavati if you are really looking forward to it. Watch it for Sumeet Vyas and Makrand Deshpande.
The Verdict: Blah-worthy.
State vs Nanavati is now streaming on Zee5/ALTBalaji.
Image Source:- youtube/ALTBalaji/twipu