Review: No One Killed Jessica is the film to beat in 2011

Film: No One Killed Jessica (A)
Director: Rajkumar Gupta
Cast: Rani Mukherji, Vidya Balan, Myra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and others
Rating: ****

What a start to 2011! You couldn’t have asked for a film better than No One Killed Jessica (NOKJ) to kick off the year. Director Rajkumar Gupta narrates the true events following the murder of model Jessica Lall at a Delhi nightclub in 1999, and makes it a compelling, dramatic and moving experience.

Fact, truly, is stranger than fiction. The incident has been the topic of much discussion in the past, and another Rajkumar — Santoshi — had touched upon it in his film, Halla Bol. But while Halla Bol only used the case in the backdrop, NOKJ takes a close look at the episode, sticking to actual events as recorded by investigative agencies and the media.

It’s not like the film doesn’t deviate from reality. Gupta takes some cinematic liberties — in the characterisation of journalist Meera Gaity and the police officer investigating the case, for example — but stays largely true to the incident.

No One Killed Jessica begins with Gaity (Mukherji) introducing viewers to Delhi, or Dilli, where getting into a tussle with someone on the streets could lead to dire consequences because everyone has a ‘connection’. The images in the title sequence, leaping at you from newspaper articles, and Amit Trivedi’s heavy metal-based background score set up the film’s tone perfectly.

A late-night call to Sabrina Lall (Vidya) wakes her up from her reverie — her sister has been shot at a party. Why? Because she refused to serve a drink to a politician’s son. Incredulous, Sabrina fights to get her sister’s murderer, Manish (Zeeshan), and his accomplices convicted.

But a system susceptible to corruption makes sure they get away — witnesses are bought, policemen bribed, and the investigation trampled upon.

In steps Meera. She had ignored the ‘story’ of Lall’s murder as a journalistic pursuit because it was an “open-and-shut” case, according to her. But Manish’s acquittal, almost seven years later, makes her take up the matter.

A sting operation is conducted, which brings new facts to light, and the public is stirred through a campaign initiated by activists (‘Middle Finger Protests’ among them) and the media.

A nationwide movement leads to the case being reopened, and Manish gets a life sentence.

You know how the story of NOKJ will unfold, yet it keeps you on edge and intrigued, which augurs well for even those who know nothing about the Jessica Lall case.

Gupta’s debut film Aamir (a remake of Cavite) gave an indication of the director’s potential, and NOKJ cements his credibility.

This time, the script is an original one — even though borrowed from real life — and Gupta has woven enough scenes around the plot that entertain, even as he keeps the focus on the underlying serious theme.

The characters are spunky, the dialogues brutally real — the brazen language isn’t a tool to shock, it just reflects real conversations — and the editing (Aarti Bajaj) is slick. Trivedi’s music deserves special mention.

The pre-interval portion could have been shorter — the film does take a while to get going — but it sets up a fast-paced, explosive second half. In spite of the grimness of the story, NOKJ reminds you of the one positive outcome of the Jessica Lall case — the public, when united, can make giants fall.

Vidya Balan underplays Sabrina, letting the silence speak instead. Her face remains resilient in her pursuit for justice, even if the body language is timid. In a scene where she lashes out, letting the pent-up emotions find release through anger, Vidya sparkles.

Contrasting her is Meera, performed brilliantly by Mukherji. She has the more appealing role of the two, but a lesser performer may not have made the same impact. As the foul-mouthed, strong-willed journalist, Mukherji gives one of her best performances till date.

Myra, who plays Jessica, is cast well and endears herself enough to make you want, badly, to see her murderer punished. She appears intermittently in flashback sequences, one of which comes at a crucial juncture, giving the story a new dimension.

The rest of the cast is fantastic, too. Right from the police officer who is frustrated by his inability to make a difference (Rajesh Sharma, you saw him as KK in Ishqiya) to the hapless politician who is torn between the love for his son and a moral sense of right, to the murderer himself. These are all very real and true to life; the bad guys aren’t really bad, the good guys aren’t squeaky clean.

Rajkumar Gupta, take a bow. You have set a high benchmark for filmmakers in 2011. Hopefully, this is only the starting point. We keep our fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, let’s relive an incident that stared us in the face but which we chose to ignore for too long. No One Killed Jessica is a fitting reminder of what is wrong with our society, but also of what is right. Don’t miss it.