Court Kacheri review: A warm yet uneven legal drama
Court Kacheri arrives as a legal dramedy with a small-town setting, combining humour, family tension, and moral dilemmas. For much of its early run, it strikes a promising balance between sharp character work and light-hearted moments. However, as the story unfolds, its focus shifts in a way that changes the series’ tone and intent. What begins as a layered, engaging tale ends as a more one-sided narrative.
Plot overview
The story follows Param (Ashish Verma), a young man reluctantly connected to the legal world thanks to his father, Harish Mathur (Pawan Malhotra), a celebrated senior advocate. Param has seen his father defend all manner of corrupt politicians, shady businessmen, and outright criminals, leaving him disillusioned with the profession. His goal is to escape abroad, ideally to Dubai or Canada, but a fake marksheet scandal threatens his plans when his police clearance certificate is blocked.
In contrast, Harish’s assistant Suraj (Puneet Batra) would welcome Param’s position. Passionate about the law, Suraj secretly starts his own legal practice with a friend, away from Harish’s supervision. Despite their differences, Param and Suraj share a warm and respectful friendship, united by a desire to step out from under Harish’s influence.
The main legal case in the series appears in the form of a divorce battle between a timid husband, represented by Harish, and his wife, represented by a rising female lawyer (Priyasha Bhardwaj). At first, it seems this case will challenge Harish’s traditional mindset, but the narrative soon takes a sharp turn in another direction.
Standout turns in the courtroom
Ashish Verma delivers a standout performance, making Param’s reluctance and frustration believable while also allowing moments of humour to shine through. This is a rare opportunity for Verma to carry a leading role, and he proves more than capable.
Pawan Malhotra brings gravitas to Harish, portraying him as both stern and occasionally vulnerable. Puneet Batra plays Suraj with energy and charm, convincingly showing his drive to succeed in the legal field.
Priyasha Bhardwaj also does a good job in the role she was given, making the female lawyer a strong presence despite the limited scope the writing allows her. Her scenes add depth to the legal proceedings and balance to the male-heavy cast.
When the scales tip
The opening episodes are among the series’ strongest points. Director Ruchir Arun captures the essence of small-town India with care, mixing realistic details with offbeat humour. The relationship between Param and Suraj provides emotional weight without falling into clichés, and the show appears set to explore generational conflict and questions of morality in the legal system.
However, midway through, the tone changes sharply. The divorce case, initially presented as a chance to challenge Harish’s outdated views, transforms into a story centred on his redemption. The wife is suddenly shown in an unfavourable light, the female lawyer loses her moral ground, and Harish emerges as the wronged party.
This sudden shift sidelines the younger characters and creates an uneven narrative. The balanced, thoughtful tone of the first half gives way to a more one-sided message, leaning towards hero worship of Harish and reducing the complexity of the themes introduced earlier.
Court Kacheri review: Court Kacheri is a show of two halves, the first promising and engaging, the second more limited in scope. While the performances, especially from Ashish Verma and Priyasha Bhardwaj, stand out, the abrupt change in focus prevents it from fully realising its potential.
