A legal thriller is the best category of content for someone like me who needs content that can keep me guessing while sitting on the edge of my seat. But finding the perfect legal thriller that will keep you hooked is not an easy task. While there is a variety of legal dramas like Suits and How To Get Away With Murder to pick from, this genre isn’t a much-explored genre in Indian shows. But from the little we have, there’s one that stands out – Criminal Justice. Based on a 2008 British Drama series of the same name, this Hotstar Special series has 2 seasons – Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors. And now the makers are all set to introduce us to season 3 – Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach. Do you know what this means? Well, Pankaj Tripathi aka Advocate Madhav Mishra is all set to return with his witty one-liners, sassy remarks and badass lawyering logic! Directed by Rohan Sippy and produced by Applause Entertainment and BBC Studios, Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach stars Pankaj Tripathi, Shweta Basu Prasad, Swastika Mukherjee, Purab Kohli, Aditya Gupta, Deshna Dugad and Gaurav Gera. The Hotstar Special series will stream on Disney+ Hotstar from August 26 onwards and new episodes drop every Friday.
The Story Of Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach
The story of season 3 of Criminal Justice follows Advocate Madhav Mishra as he is approached by Avantika Ahuja to fight and save her son Mukul Ahuja who has been accused of murdering his sister and celebrated child actor Zara Ahuja. With all odds against Mukul, Advocate Madhav Mishra gears up to fight the toughest case of his career while he deals with teenage client who refuses to share the complete truth. Madhav Mishra, played by Pankaj Tripathi, has to go against the strong-willed Assistant Public Prosecutor Lekha, (played by Shweta Basu Prasad) who is ready to fight him tooth and nail to convict Mukul of a crime he may or may not have committed. With the evidence stacked up against his client surrounded by lies, will Madhav Mishra be able to win this case and get justice for both Mukul Ahuja and his sister Zara Ahuja? Well, you’ll just have to find out. Watch to show to follow Madhav and Mukul’s gut-wrenching journey through the legal system while exploring Juvenile Justice System.
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The Cast And Characters
Pankaj Tripthi as Madhav Mishra: It’s, honestly, a pleasure to watch Pankaj Tripathi (as always). He’s a seasoned actor and is known for easing into his character with such grace and he prove his mettle yet again by reprising the role of Madhav Mishra in Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach. Pankaj is really just a gift that keeps giving. The actor comes armed with a strong dose of sass, humour and witty comebacks but his smooth and massy dialogue delivery is to die for. We cannot ever have enough of Pankaj Tripathi or Madhav Mishra. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch Madhav Mishra who provides comical relief even in the toughest situation and his hilarious take on just about everything. Having said that, this season you’ll witness Madhav Mishra growing with his wife, as an individual and as a lawyer. His character arc is beautifully written and even more beautifully portrayed.
Shweta Basu Prasad as Lekha: Considering that I have watched only 6 episodes of the series, up until now, Shweta Basu Prasad’s character looks rather underdeveloped. She’s a strong-willed woman with grit but her character seems incomplete. She has a backstory that is portrayed in the show but very briefly which makes it pointless, TBH. But more is yet to come. The actress has showcased her spectacular acting skills with her portrayal of Lekha.
Swastika Mukherjee as Avantika Ahuja: This actress really won us over with her portrayal of a mother struggling to save her son from being punished for a crime he hasn’t committed. Swastika perfectly played the role of a mother embroiled in controversy and a roller coaster of emotions as she struggles to come to terms with the situation. Swastika showcases Avantika’s pain, confusion, fear and rage perfectly and makes a viewer feel every single emotion as well as her confusion and chaos as she gets caught up between saving her son and her relationship.
Purab Kohli as Neeraj Ahuja: He delivered a performance close to flawless and put on display his character’s pain and how he’s dealing with the murder of his daughter while questioning his wife’s judgement after she decides to save Mukul.
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Aditya Gupta as Mukul Ahuja: The confusion of a teenager and the chaos in their heads are not easy to understand. Aditya Gupta and his amazing acting skills will remind you of your teenage days. The emotional fragility of his character is quite evident as Mukul struggles to deal with the fact that he was arrested for his sister’s murder. The chaos of a teenager’s mind is sufficiently portrayed.
Deshna Dugad as Zara Ahuja: This child actor plays the role of a child actor in Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach. While Deshna delivered a good performance, she did look uncomfortable in her character in some places.
Gaurav Gera as Avantika’s Ex-Husband: Even with his limited screentime Gaurav did well but he does seem visibly uncomfortable in his character.
Verdict
This review and verdict is based on 6 episodes of Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach. While the final few episodes are yet to come my way, let me point out that this season of the show is rather slow-paced. But this does not mean that it won’t give you a nail-biting moment and make you want more. The flawless performance by the cast is commendable. The makers have managed to touch upon the subject of the Juvenile Justice System and portrayed it in a sensitive manner. Having said that, there are some holes and loopholes in the plot line but they’re digestible. The pace, however, can be rather troublesome. A large part of the series focuses on the police probe as Madhav Mishra deals with his client who refuses to share the complete truth. This season also focuses on human emotions and drama more than just the legal side of it. And while that makes it interesting, it also takes away the legal bit.
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Another thing to note is that the show has managed to show complicated human relationships but the makers forgot to set a concrete foundation and background for those relationships. The half-baked relationship background leaves one with unanswered questions but Pankaj Tripathi and his comic timing is the saving grace. Considering that there are more episodes to come, I’ll give Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach, 3.5 out of 5 stars, keeping in mind the potential it carries. Moreover, it is important to note that despite the slow pace and the loopholes, the makers have managed to keep it thrilling enough to have people sitting on the edge of their seats guessing who killed Zara and if Mukul is innocent or not and if Madhav Mishra will be able to crack open this case.