With “Prahaar” now in theatres, Ujjwal Nikam has shared his view of the film. Speaking to ANI, the senior lawyer and Padma Shri awardee said it is not his biopic. According to him, the film is about what happened in court after Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was arrested, and how the trial unfolded. Rajkummar Rao plays Nikam.
Nikam said he initially doubted the idea. He recalled asking the makers what kind of film they could make about a lawyer’s life, since nothing much happens in it, with no dancing and few songs. The filmmakers, he said, wanted to raise key questions about the 26/11 trial: why it went through the legal process despite public demand for Kasab’s hanging, why it took so many years, and what the whole process finally achieved.
His Answers
Nikam said he answered all three questions for the filmmakers. Kasab was caught on 26/11, he said, but charges were framed on May 6, 2009, and the death sentence was announced on May 5, 2010. There were 650 witnesses in the case.
An Emotional Viewing
Nikam said watching “Prahaar” was emotionally difficult. It brought back the personal hardships he faced while defending high-profile cases. He said it was a film that made him feel as if the real accused were he and his family. Seeing parts of his life on screen, he said, had a strong emotional impact.
On Rajkummar Rao’s Performance
Nikam praised Rao’s performance. When director Avinash Arun first told him that Rao would play him, he said, he left the decision to the filmmakers. After watching the film, many of his lawyer friends told him Rao captured the forceful way he argues in court. Nikam credited the actor with portraying his style and mannerisms.
Cast and Crew
“Prahaar” is directed by Avinash Arun. The cast includes Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vamika Gabbi, Lalit Prabhakar, Sikander Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi and Ritwik Sahore.
Why It Matters
When the person a film is based on says it is not a biopic and also praises the portrayal, it gives the film a certain credibility with audiences, and the trial’s long timeline gives a legal drama real stakes. It also shows how a film’s own makers describe the subject, since earlier promotion called it “The Ujjwal Nikam Story.” Viewers will judge whether the film delivers on the courtroom focus Nikam describes.
