[soft, pensive music]
Hey there, Suraj.
Bauji, wrapped up early today? Already unwinding?
You're making it sound like I'm always out drinking.
We'll just have one drink.
Suraj…
Yes, Bauji?
Tell me something.
Did you know?
What, Bauji?
[Harish] That…
Param…
is going to Canada?
No, Bauji. I didn't know.
You've been with me for what, eight years now, Suraj?
Yes, Bauji.
So, when are you leaving me?
[pensive music intensifies]
Hmm?
Sorry, Bauji. I…
I was planning something with Japtap without your knowledge.
[chuckles softly, inhales sharply]
Plan!
These plans fuck you over.
A man makes plans, and life…
[clicks tongue]
moves forward without him.
So what happened to your plan?
Same old.
[in English] Man proposes, God disposes.
What next?
[in Hindi] You, Bauji.
I will assist you.
No.
Let's practice together.
Let's put up a board outside that says, "Advocate Harish Mathur
and Advocate Suraj Beriya."
Bauji, you're not joking, right?
If I were joking…
you would have been laughing.
[chuckles softly]
Thank you, Bauji. Thank you.
-[glasses clink] -Cheers.
Will you do me a favor, partner?
Bauji, just say the word.
Go to Ratna's village
and find out what the deal is with his daughter.
-Alright, Bauji. -And listen…
don't tell Param.
You see, he might think
I'm making someone else redo his work, and…
that could upset him.
Alright, Bauji.
[funky indie music plays]
[music fades out]
[party horn tooting]
Enough. Let's go.
-Where's your bag? -[tooting]
Deepu!
-Hello? -[Harish] Hear me out, Suraj.
Make some time to visit Satyavan's village as well.
You might find some information there.
Alright, Bauji. I'll try.
Alright.
[Param] Papa is trying to be Sherlock.
Param, Suraj can piss all over your work.
I'll have to put a diaper on him.
Now piss all you want.
Brother!
Namaste!
I want to ask you something.
What kind of woman would you say Ratna is?
Brother, she's a complete saint.
She even visits the temple every Tuesday.
Wearing a yellow dupatta. Even I go there.
When my father was in the hospital…
Ratna took such good care of everything.
Does her husband come here to visit her?
Husband…
Never saw him. The fucker must be dead.
She has a daughter, Deepu Mishra.
Yes. She's a lovely child!
She's a single woman,
but she takes such good care of her daughter.
I had gone over to propose marriage to her,
with a heart-shaped balloon in hand.
She popped the balloon.
She didn't agree.
That's good.
Uncle, she must have done something.
She must have borrowed money or taken a loan from you.
Oh, not at all. What are you saying?
Never.
-[in English] Excuse me. -Hmm?
[in Hindi] Sir, can we talk for two minutes?
Visiting time, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
No, sir. I want to inquire about a staff of yours.
Who are you?
[baby crying at a distance]
I'm from Sarjanpur Court.
Come on, man. Let's see the card in slow motion.
[sniggers]
I figured since you can read a doctor’s prescription, you'd…
[in English] Five-year course.
Very good.
[in Hindi] Here you go.
Tell me, who do you want to inquire about?
So, Ratna Mishra…
she works here as a ward girl, right?
Yes, she works here.
How long has she been working here?
I don't know exactly, but it must have been around 10 to 12 years.
I see.
And Deepu Mishra, her daughter, was born in this nursing home, right?
Hmm. There were some complications during her birth.
What complications?
Well, I can't tell you that.
I don't investigate those things. I'm not a doctor.
But surely you have the medical records, don't you?
May I see them?
Are you Deepu's father?
I just told you, I'm from the court. I'm here for an inquiry.
-Suraj ji. -Yes?
Suppose… just suppose you have a kidney stone,
and it accidentally gets lodged in your gall bladder.
Not even a drop of urine is passing.
Surgery is the only option.
If a man comes here showing his lawyer ID
and asks for your medical report,
can I give it to him just like that?
Are you insane?
-You're talking nonsense! -[in English] Exactly!
[in Hindi] That's what I'm saying. You don't get it.
I'll have someone from the local police station speak with you.
Well, I can also have… Modi ji talk to you.
How about a phone chat with him?
You won't be able to.
Not many can.
WAITING ROOM
[upbeat, hopeful music]
Here are the reports.
Happy?
The case is in our hands!
-Sir. -Hmm?
-Oh, hey. What's up? -Wait a minute. Wait.
[Suraj] Will I get the medical records now?
Took you a while to get around.
Gandhiji. I'd turn over every hospital file to you for him.
I love Bapu.
[quirky, tense music]
That's… cheating.
I've been deceived.
Sonny, I'll sue the nursing home for deception
and have you fired today. Just wait!
Here's your Gandhiji.
It's yours.
Next time you see a lawyer's ID, start with a salute.
Then politely ask, "Sir, what can I do for you?"
Understand?
Well… I was just kidding.
But you-- Hey, you threw it.
You and I are not the same.
[busy signal beeping]
Oh man!
Packing's underway?
Yes, just…
Son, keep this jacket.
[soft, pensive music]
You'll need it at the Toronto airport.
So, will Amit be there to pick you up at Toronto airport?
Yes.
And…
who will you stay with?
Amit or Piyush?
Don't worry, Papa. I'll manage.
What time do you have to leave for the airport?
The flight's at nine o'clock. So I'll leave at four o'clock with Shilpi.
What do you mean, "I'll leave"?
I'll come and see you off.
I have a short hearing. I'll finish it and be back.
Okay.
Param…
Proud of you, son.
Uh…
I'll be back soon.
By the way, Param…
I can't get through to Suraj. Can you try calling him?
-Give it to me, I'll try. -I tried with my phone. I can't reach him.
Use your phone to call him.
Yes.
Uh, Su…
No? [clicks tongue]
Alright, see you.
I'm sorry, Papa.
But for justice to be served, it's important that you lose this case.
[vehicle honking]
Did we cross Sarjanpur?
Brother, we crossed it an hour ago.
-Damn it! -You missed the conductor shouting?
Driver, stop the bus, please!
Pull over, man!
[tense music]
Fuck!
[announcer] Case number 14! Ratna versus Satyavan!
[phone vibrates]
Hello, Advocate Beriya. Are you done investigating?
Param, why can't I get through to Bauji's number?
How would I know? He's your Bauji.
Man, this Ratna has turned out to be a fucking fraud!
Deepu is not Satyavan's daughter.
She fucking hoodwinked everyone, man. Everyone!
I can't even reach Munshi. He's visiting his village.
Listen, has the hearing begun?
[tense music intensifies]
Fuck!
Mathur sahab.
Your Honor, Ratna ji maintains that
her daughter’s father is my client Satyavan ji.
And hence, she should get 20 lakh rupees in alimony.
Your Honor, the woman ran away from every responsibility of a marriage.
How can we trust that once we give her 20 lakh rupees,
she will fulfill all her duties towards her daughter?
That is why we want the daughter's custody,
-so that Satyavan ji-- -Custody? Objection, My Lord!
A father who didn't bother about his daughter for 12 years
now suddenly wants custody!
Harish ji, before asking for custody, you could have consulted your client.
He's gone pale after hearing about the custody!
Anusha ji, have some patience.
[in English] Apologies, My Lord.
My Lord, can I submit a very important piece of evidence, please?
[in Hindi] It makes my client's claim even stronger.
[in English] For you.
[in Hindi] This is Satyavan's grandfather's will.
As per the will, Ratna has an equal right to Satyavan's property.
Anusha ji.
You can't just present evidence in the middle of a hearing.
Your Honor, I'd like to request the court not to accept the documents.
This is…
Anusha ji, you have to follow the procedure.
-[Harish] Of course. -My Lord, I'm aware of the procedure,
but unfortunately, I received the will only yesterday.
-So-- -How convenient, Your Honor!
Anusha ji, care to explain where this will suddenly came from?
-Only if you let me finish, Harish ji. -Okay. Please do.
And why are you feigning ignorance?
You don't know who sent me this will?
How would I know, Your Honor?
My Lord, this will was sent to me by his son, Param Mathur.
I have the courier's records. I'll show it to you.
[tense music builds]
[in English] For you, sir.
[in Hindi] First, Harish ji hid the will from the court.
Then he had his son send it to me right at the last minute.
-[in English] That's not true, sir. -[Anusha] And then he says
that I cannot present it mid-hearing.
Harish ji, I don't understand what kind of game you're playing.
I don't understand why you're wasting the court's time.
Wait a minute.
I didn't even know about this.
Mathur sahab,
now I have to give her both, right to residence and maintenance.
-No. Your Honor, we can… talk about this. -Look…
Listen to me.
I suggest you get together and settle it.
I'll appoint a mediator if you want.
My Lord, mediation is not necessary. The case is quite clear.
They've been trying to fool the court from the beginning.
First, he had his assistant file a mutual divorce petition
to take advantage of Ratna ji's innocence.
Then he claims Satyavan is not the child's father and demands a DNA test.
Today, he's asking for her custody.
He deliberately hid the will from the court. Why?
Just so he wouldn't have to give the girl her right.
He had the audacity because, My Lord, in a patriarchal society,
men think they can do as they please!
Anusha ji, he's a senior lawyer.
Please maintain decorum.
[in Hindi] I had no clue about this will…
It doesn't look authentic.
-Still… -[judge] Mathur sahab…
Yes?
if the will's a forgery, why did you have it sent to her?
To deceive her?
No. I didn't even know about this.
Mathur sahab, I'm sorry to say, you think every official document is fake,
whether it's a birth certificate or a school certificate.
Now you think the will is fake.
-It's not like that, Your Honor. -Here's what you can do.
Have 15,000 rupees sent to Ratna ji every month as interim maintenance.
-But, Your Honor, we can still-- -Then we'll see.
-Your Honor, I-- -Type up the order.
[keyboard clacking]
[typewriter dings]
[Param] No matter what kind of man your father is,
or how wrong he seems,
when he's humiliated in front of a crowd because of your dumbassery,
you just want to die!
I always believed I was standing by the truth.
But the truth is, I was only against my father.
[dramatic orchestral music builds]
I'm ashamed of myself.
What do I do? Die?
Or kill?
Sorry, Bhati sir. I have no option.
[dramatic orchestral music swells]
[commotion]
-[dramatic thud] -[lawyers clamoring]
Thrash him, Pandey!
[fast-paced dramatic music]
[Satyavan] Harish ji.
Harish ji, listen.
Harish ji, you only lose a case, but my life will be ruined!
I don't know why I went after a divorce. Coming to you was definitely a mistake!
Now I'm taking the hit for it!
-And your son sent-- -Hey!
Don't drag my son into this!
You're the one who sabotaged the case!
You're the one who lied!
You're the one who hid the will!
Do you seriously think the court is full of fucking morons?
You can't tell them stories! You have to tell the truth!
Whose responsibility was it to tell us about the will?
It was your responsibility, right? So, why didn't you tell me about it?
You're not the one taking the hit. I'm… [inhales sharply]
I'm the one taking the hit. You…
You seriously misused this card.
-[melancholic music] -[weeping]
I didn't lie to you, Harish ji.
I didn't hide anything either.
I just know that she is not my daughter.
And the will doesn't mean anything to me.
Because Ratna left me barely a month after we got married.
No one was thinking about the will.
After Grandpa's death, my father inherited the house,
and I inherited it from him.
And it was so long ago that I didn't even remember--
But your weak memory undermined my case!
Bauji!
[angrily] Hey! What "Bauji"? What is it?
You just barge into my office! Can't you ask first?
Now go. Get out.
Knock, ask for permission, and then come in.
Sorry. Sorry, Bauji.
Bauji.
-May I come in? -Yes, come in. Come on.
What happened? What was all that drama you people caused out there?
Bauji, Param…
It was Param.
Hey, where are you going?
-Sir, even I'm a lawyer. Make way. -Let him go. He's with us.
Wait. Make way, please. Let me through.
Move, please. Thank you.
Mathur sahab, you know your son has broken a serious law.
I mean, how could he do that?
He's your son. This is unbelievable.
Look, another one's here.
One lawyer breaks the law, and suddenly the whole brotherhood bands together!
Wasn't the crowd big enough without you joining?
But it's no surprise, Mathur sahab.
For a boy whose father is the city's finest lawyer,
-law and order is a joke. -Just bring Param out, please.
He's coming!
He didn't commit some petty crime.
Who are you glaring at?
Step back!
This is not your office where you can intimidate people!
I'll put every one of you fuckers behind bars!
Who are you cursing at?
-Sort him out! -Yeah!
Hey!
Just stay where you are and be quiet!
[sarcastic grunt]
Hey, go and get the boy.
Here. Look at me. Look into my eyes.
Look, son. Before the court and after the court…
comes the jail.
Always remember that.
[melancholic music]
-[wincing] -Don't move.
Sorry, Papa.
Anusha lied in court today.
She didn't get the will yesterday.
I had sent it to her 15 days ago.
My name appears as the sender.
These are ploys, my son.
I'd have done the same if I were her.
Papa, I thought…
Ratna was right and should get the justice she deserves.
I feel like a loser.
Son, when you stood by Ratna at the first hearing,
you saw yourself as her advocate.
Then you did what you thought…
was right.
Even today, in court…
you did what you thought was right.
Well then…
looks like my son has inherited some of my qualities.
But I undermined our case, Papa.
Son, do one thing.
Take the next flight to Canada and get away from here.
Don't bother yourself with these cases.
Papa…
I was thinking of waiting until Satyavan's case is over,
then heading to Canada.
Son…
you'll do what you think is right.
So, what can I say?
I think I should do this, Papa.
Now watch, son…
as your father clinches this case.
I have you, right?
Yes.
Just do something for me.
Tell me…
how and where you got the will.
Son…
give me as many details…
as you can.
I couldn't sign the interim maintenance order the other day.
Yes, My Lord.
Let's do that first.
Your Honor, with your permission, I'd like to say something before that.
How can I stop you if you've got something to say?
Go on.
Your Honor, after meeting the little girl,
my client Satyavan Mishra ji has had a change of heart, and…
he wishes to look after his wife and daughter
as a responsible husband and a responsible father.
So, Your Honor, we wish to file Section 9.
-We don't want a separation or a divorce. -[in English] What nonsense!
Anusha ji!
[in English] Mind your language.
[in Hindi] He's a senior lawyer. Keep that tongue in check.
-Go on, what do you have to say? -I'm sorry.
[in Hindi] As soon as the will gets discovered, he wants his wife back!
My Lord, nothing guarantees he will look after his wife and daughter.
What if he settles the property dispute and throws them out again?
[in English] My Lord, we request this court to grant us divorce
with one-time settlement of rupees 1.5 crore.
Your Honor, I knew that my competent colleague here
would raise an objection to Section 9
because she doesn't want to save the marriage.
Your Honor, the court's default intent is
to save marriages rather than break them.
And in this case, a child will also receive her father's love.
[in Hindi] Harish ji wants to save a marriage that doesn't even exist.
Anusha ji, so you want 1.5 crore rupees
to break a marriage that doesn't even exist?
Your Honor, one thing's clear.
It's money they want. Only money.
Your Honor, I…
I'd like to submit Deepu Mishra's birth report.
My Lord, he cannot present evidence mid-hearing.
I permitted you to do so.
Thank you, Your Honor.
[in English] Your copy, please.
[in Hindi] Your Honor, this report states
Deepu Mishra was born on 10th November 2010,
as Ratna ji told the court.
But, Your Honor, there is something to be noted.
It states the child was born two months premature.
[tense music builds]
Two months premature, Your Honor.
This means the child was conceived in the month of April.
And the photo Anusha ji showed us of a wedding in the village,
where Ratna ji and Satyavan ji met,
and allegedly, were seen going into a room…
What was the date on it? Anusha ji, what was the date?
9th February.
Your Honor, even if we were to believe
that Ratna ji and Satyavan ji had intercourse that day,
Satyavan ji would still not be the child's father.
My client is not the father of the child.
Your Honor, Ratna ji lied to the court.
Anusha ji!
[in English] My Lord, there-- There must be some mistake.
-I just-- -[judge] What is this?
Ratna ji.
Please come forward.
-Sir, I-- -Come forward!
Do you know the punishment for lying to the court?
You can be jailed for three years.
-Sir, I-- -Go back.
Anusha ji,
I'm warning you.
If any more lies are said or discovered in this court, she will be sent to jail,
and the child's custody will go to Child Welfare. Is that clear?
Your Honor, warning?
Lying in court, misleading the evidence. This is perjury, Your Honor.
Mathur sahab, what do you want?
She has an innocent 12-year-old daughter.
Do I send her to jail?
Your Honor, there's no place for compassion in justice.
And what about the mental trauma my client suffered because of their lie?
Look, Mathur sahab.
I have a divorce case here.
If you want to file a defamation suit, go ahead.
Right now, we'll just talk about the divorce.
My Lord, what about the will?
[in Hindi] As per the will, Ratna ji gets an equal share of the estate.
Your Honor.
This will says,
"I, Jogindranath Mishra, of sound mind and body…"
Your Honor, "Of sound mind and body."
I would like to submit Jogindranath Mishra's…
death certificate and medical report.
Here you go.
Your Honor, Jogindranath Mishra's medical report says
he died of liver failure due to excessive alcohol consumption.
Your Honor, he was always drunk.
[in English] And we have all the reasons to believe
that this will was made or signed under the influence of alcohol.
My Lord, how can we prove that when the will was made,
Jogindranath Mishra was intoxicated?
Both the witnesses of the will are also dead.
Anusha ji, Mathur sahab.
Both of you are complicating the case.
I would say, settle this out of court. I'll have it mediated.
[in Hindi] Your Honor, we don't want a settlement.
We will prove to the court that the will is invalid.
Fine, Mathur sahab.
Take another date then.
You're a senior lawyer.
If it wastes the court's time, so be it! Give me that. The next date.
Next hearing.
Okay.
On the 21st of next month.
Okay, done.
Your Honor.
[Ratna] Anusha didi…
Anusha didi, listen to me.
-Anusha didi-- -You shouldn't have lied to me, Ratna!
You-- Go to the office.
You shouldn't have lied to me.
I'm not sure what will become of our case now.
[sorrowful music]
[sobbing]
Didi…
I didn't mean to lie to you.
Really, I never intended to.
After I ran away from my marriage,
I fell in love with a boy.
We started living together.
And when I got pregnant…
he ran away.
Deepu and I were just going through life,
and then suddenly, the divorce came up.
I had no money, didi.
When they started talking about compensation…
you came along.
And then, they started talking about Deepu's father.
What could I have said?
That Deepu was an illegitimate, fatherless child?
And you're not the only person I lied to.
I've been telling everyone that for 12 years.
That Deep--
Uh, excuse me.
Anusha, Papa wants to meet you,
if you're interested.
Tea.
Ratna ji.
Child…
I understand where you're coming from.
You asked for alimony because you have a daughter.
You thought the money would help you raise her and give her a good life.
For that, you also lied to the court…
that she's Satyavan's child.
But I understand.
Dear, I'll try and explain to you what happens next.
Look, the entire case is now hinged on the will.
And these property dispute cases go on for years.
You will keep saying that the will is valid,
and we will keep saying that it's isn't valid.
And this will keep going on.
And I'll see this case through to the end because I gave him my word.
Anusha ji won't drop your case either.
But all of this isn't worth anything to either of you.
And for lying to the court…
I'm going to sue you for fraud and defamation.
And I really hope that Anusha ji also fights that case for you.
We are lawyers.
[chuckles] We love to fight.
I'm not trying to scare you.
You can consult your lawyer.
Now if you understand me, let me know, and I'll present a proposal to you.
[suspenseful music]
Please tell us.
Ratna, we will give you ten lakh rupees.
Eight lakh rupees will go into an FD for Deepu,
which she will receive when she turns 18.
The remaining two lakh will be given to you.
But in return,
we will file for a mutual divorce.
And you will give us a signed NOC that says
that you have no right to Satyavan's property.
So, dear, you can decide
if you want to fight in court for years or accept this deal.
Alright, sir.
[in English] Offer accepted.
-Congratulations! -Congrats to you too!
[light, hopeful music]
-[in English] I'll get the papers ready. -[in Hindi] Oh, that can be done later.
[in English] Sir, it was very exciting to work
[in Hindi] I got to learn a lot.
Same here.
[in Hindi] When I meet your father next, I'll let him know…
[in English] Anusha is a brilliant lawyer, and I mean it.
Thank you.
All the best. Take care.
-[in Hindi] Take care of yourself. -Yes.
-Congratulations! -Thank you, sir.
-See you, Bauji. -Thank you, sir.
[in English] Thanks for the will.
Anusha…
did you know that Ratna was lying?
Hmm?
I said, did you know Ratna was lying?
I heard you the first time.
[Param] Grandpa used to say, "Be wary of doctors in white
and lawyers in black."
But now I understand
how important these coats are to run this society.
The judiciary isn't just the third pillar of democracy.
It's the backbone that holds up the others.
The existence of courts gives us hope
that if something goes wrong, there's a place where we will be heard,
where we can get justice.
But justice for one can sometimes mean injustice for another.
[bright, uplifting music]
So what is justice?
Justice, much like a poet's craft, exists in imagination.
Law is our attempt to bring justice to life.
PREFACE
And lawyers like my father devote their lives to this pursuit.
They put their heart and soul into trying to get you justice.
The board at the gate said, "Machine out of order."
It always said to me…
"Param, run away."
But I have decided…
I won't run away. I'll run toward justice…
as a lawyer.
[music fades out]