A Very Interesting Film

The following content is not a movie review.

I would merely like to suggest this movie which is hardly heard of now but immensely interesting and brilliantly performed by the cast. Some readers might have already seen and appreciated it; others, I am sure shall love watching it.

And I request you to watch the movie WITHOUT knowing details of the plot. Only then you can enjoy the play thoroughly !

The movie is: Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986) – the Hindi remake of the American motion picture 12 Angry Men (1957) .

Originally written as a teleplay by Reginald Rose, the Hindi version is directed by the famous Indian film director and screen-writer, Basu Chatterjee. Barring merely a few scenes, this drama film uses just a single set !

Here’s a brief account of it…

A teenage boy from a slum is on trial for allegedly stabbing his father to death. After final closing arguments are presented, the Judge instructs the twelve-member Jury to unanimously decide whether or not the boy is guilty of murder. The Judge also informs them that a guilty verdict will imply a mandatory death sentence.

The Jury meets in a separate room to discuss and conclude the verdict. Initially, it appears to almost all of them that the boy is guilty and therefore, they talk about quickly releasing their verdict and winding up their day. But soon it is learnt that Juror Number 8 opines a “not guilty” vote in a preliminary tally !!

From here onwards, the movie is centred on various opinions and reasons of the twelve Jurors, either in holding the boy “guilty” or “not guilty”. Some of the Jurors display personal prejudices but Juror Number 8 focusses on the circumstantial evidences of the case and throughout, seeks a fair deliberation for the boy. The film also depicts certain techniques of consensus-building among a group of twelve men bearing intensely conflicting personalities.

After periodic discussions, votes are cast through the system of secret ballot and finally, the unanimous verdict is inferred.

No names are used in the film; the Jury members are identified by numbers until two of them exchange names at the very end; the defendant is referred to as “the boy”, and the witnesses as “the old man” and “the lady across the street”.

Noteworthily, 12 Angry Men was selected in 2007, for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Well, I have not watched the original American cinema but that too must be simply great. However, I must say that the Hindi title Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (a pending decision) sounds more catchy and apt 🙂 !

And thanks a ton to my hubby for making a wonderful evening by arranging this amazing movie.

Aamjunta, enjoy either of the versions and post your thoughts here…