No One Killed Jessica

Cast: Rani Mukherjee,Vidya Balan, Neil Bhoopalam, Rajesh Sharma, Shireesh Sharma, Myra Karn

Director: Rajkumar Gupta

The first week of the year is not usually a time when A-grade films see a release. It's just not considered the luckiest of times. For quite some time now Bollywood has seen only forgettable B-graders in this week. Even the second week has rarely been successful with recent years seeing disasters like Pyaar Impossible, Chandni Chowk to China and Halla Bol released in the last three years. The release of No One Killed Jessica at this time hence shows a great deal of confidence on the makers' part. And considering the tremendous response to the promos of the film it does seem to be a safe decision.

Part fact, part fiction No One Killed Jessica is a tale of Delhi model Jessica Lall's murder and her sister Sabrina's (Vidya Balan) fight for justice. An apparent open and shut case is extended to over six years with witnesses turning hostile till the accused are acquitted. And that's when a journalist Meera Gaity (Rani Mukerji) takes up the case and started unveiling facts, steering up a trial by media and thereby creating pressure on the government to take required action against the culprits.

While the basic outline of the story is pretty much the same as it happened in real Jessica Lall murder case the details added are fictionalized accounts to suit storytelling. The story is told from the point of view of Meera, who rises to fame following her live coverage of the Kargil war - a la Barkha Dutt. Meera ignores the Jessica Lall case for six years believing that it is a 'no story' but is stumped when she finds that the culprits are let go. Jessica's family in the meantime reduces to half with deaths and she loses hope in justice and people.

Director Raj Kumar Gupta tries his best to keep his narration true to life. However there are times when he lets go off his restraint and the speed goes slack. A very long first half and quite a short second half give a disproportionate feeling. While the second half moves swiftly the lack of punch and drama is felt miserably after the built up that the elaborate first half creates. Scenes like the candle march for justice overwhelms while scenes where Meera turns from a journalist to almost a superhuman capable of superb mimicry are quite filmy!

Technically No One Killed Jessica has some inconsistent camerawork. Extreme close ups of faces at many occasions is unappealing, while many other scenes remarkably well shot. Interestingly the way the candle protest scene is shot is quite inspired by Rang De Basanti - up to the camera movement. And the film probably could have been edited by a dozen minutes more. Amit Trivedi's music is excellent as usual and works for the film.

Performances add great strength to the movie. Both Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan have very distinct characters and they play their part with equal aplomb. It's a delight to see Rani back on screen and this performance should go a long way in re-establishing her lost position in Bollywood. Vidya in the meantime seems to be on a dream run. Paa, Ishqiya and now NOJK - all three one after the other have been solid stamps on her command as an actress. The supporting cast which includes Neil Bhoopalam, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Rajesh Sharma and very good too. Also Myra, who plays Jessica, shows promise.

The film does have the capability to stir you mildly and ponder over the injustice that is often meted out to people by the ones who hold power positions; and how not everyone turns out to be as lucky as Jessica and her sister Sabrina - who had the entire country's people backing them. The story pokes a finger into the power cabinets of the country and what ill-deeds they are capable of. However director Raj Kumar Gupta, who had left us wanting more with his debut film Aamir, does disappoint us. Post his tremendous first film this is not quite the best follow up. He could have done better. Nonetheless, No One Killed Jessica is a film you mustn't miss. On April 29, 1999 a shot was fired from a .22 bore pistol whose loud reverberations lasted over a decade. The shot that killed a vivacious, aspiring model Jessica Lall was fired in the presence of more than 100 ’socialites’ present at a party in New Delhi. Yet, accused Manu Sharma walked free in 2006 prompting a newspaper headline that read “No One Killed Jessica”.

In the ensuing decade, Venod Sharma, father of the accused and a high profile congress leader, paid millions of rupees to silence witnesses. It was not until the Tehelka Magazine did a sting investigation and Star News aired the footage that justice was finally served. “No One Killed Jessica” faithfully follows the case to emerge a winner. Almost everyone knows the story. Yet, the film makes some interesting departures to keep the momentum going. A Barkha Dutt type character has been introduced in Rani Mukerji though the former did not have much to do with the case or its reinstatement. However, Rani lacks the intensity to pull off such a strong role and the strain shows. On the other hand, Vidya Balan soars with the unglamorous, distraught and hunchbacked portrayal of Jessica’s sister.

Director Raj Kumar Gupta makes direct comment on the society we live in, its voyeuristic tendencies and the judiciary’s disregard for justice. Everyone knows the extent of corruption and rot in the system as symptomised by the acquittal of Manu Sharma, but the question as always is who would bell the cat if the police and judiciary do not. In this case Tehelka, who did the sting investigation and Star News (and not NDTV that walks away with the praises in the film) that aired the footages did manage to right a wrong. But the question is not just of Jessica Lall, but the thousands like her whose cases have not had the light of justice shine upon them. The Jessica Lall murder thus became an emblem of the rot in the democracy, police and judiciary.

The truth is, the culprits were not just Manu Sharma, his friends and his family, but Shayan Munshi who redacted his statements leading to Manu’s acquittal and Bina Ramani, both of whom continue to have successful careers, one as an actor-model and the latter as a heedless socialite. The culprit is all of us who stay silent to the injustice all around us.

The injustice done in Jessica’s case has been corrected, but the question remains of the millions of other cases of injustice in the country. Gupta’s film on a true incident bodes well for Bollywood, which is normally not too keen on reality, and the concept of justice itself. Yet, the question is not who killed Jessica Lall, but as the gross miscarriage of injustice in Kashmir, central and northeast India and the thousands of pending cases in the country show it is: who killed justice in India? For a film like this which is based on reality but is told in a thrilling manner, it was always a thin rope to walk for the makers. After all the case went on for years in court and just like 'Black Friday' (which again tried to connect number of disjointed events), 'No One Killed Jessica' too is a terrific portrayal of what 'could' have actually happened.

There is tension in the air the moment Vidya Balan is informed about her sister been shot. From this point on there is no turning back as you look at the screen wide eyed for the next 15-20 minutes as a graphical representation of minute by minute series of events that led to Jessica's (played effectively by first timer Myra Karn) death are depicted on screen. You know that it would be one dramatic journey from here on and as an audience, you aren't disappointed.

While the film takes a thrilling route, it isn't without its fair share of emotional moments that never fail to result in moist eyes. Vidya's realisation that her sister is dead, the hopelessness of seeing witnesses turning hostile and then the brilliant interval point where Rani Mukherjee, a firebrand journalist, wakes up to a newsprint in bold 'No One Killed Jessica' you are bound to get your tissues out. Meanwhile the film never leaves its dramatic pitch. The killing followed by Neil Bhoopalam (playing Jessica's friend) call of desperation, interrogation by the cop (Rajesh Sharma), the confession that follows, demands made by the witnesses, high society witnesses failing to turn up, cop's frustration, other witnesses turning hostile and then finally the prime witness' (Neil) shocking declaration in the court of law - there is a lot to pick in the first half of the film.

The second half too proceeds on a good note with Rani picking up the mantle of going neck deep down into a 'story' which had now turned into a national headline. The sting operation that follows is very well done which does changes the course of the film and also ensures that for that wide segment of audience which wanted the film to be high on entertainment quotient, there is a lot to be offered. One does feel though that while the build up to the silent protest is good and the sequence by itself is picturised well, there are portions where NOKJ starts slackening a little. The finale (Rani meeting Vidya at Jessica's grave), though justified, is a tad too filmy and even as Myra's montage tries to bring her back alive in audience's memory, one would have rather wanted a realistic route to be followed right till the end.

Leaving aside such minor blemishes, the fact remains that NOKJ has started 2011 on a very good note. From a small budgeted 'Aamir', Gupta has graduated to a medium budgeted NOKJ. However how one wishes that he sticks on to this route rather than getting tempted by big bucks and bigger budgeted projects. Reason being that 'No One Killed Jessica' acts as a slap on those 50-75-100 crores budgeted films that just loot audience on the name of entertainment.

As performers though both Vidya and Rani are equals. While Vidya's almost silent act turns out to be impressive as less is more here for her, whether it is by means of few dialogues or a subtle body language, Rani gets her fiery act right too while ensuring that there is no dull moment whenever she is around. Rajesh Sharma is a find and after playing a lighter part in 'Ishqiya', he acts tremendously well as a toughie who deserves to be seen in more films. The man who plays the main accused, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, is convincing while Neil is quite good as well. Myra Karn is not just a pretty face but acts well too. As for the biggest highpoint of the film, it is undoubtedly Amit Trivedi's music which is tremendous, whether via songs or the background score. There are three things that remain constant while you are watching 'No One Killed Jessica'. 1) You don't blink your eye, 2) Your heart continues to pound hard and 3) There is a lump in your throat. That's the power of this Rajkumar Gupta directed film that stays with you for hours after you are through watching it.