Section 375: A Movie Review for the Sapio-patient Audience

          Certainly rape is a horrendous crime and the movie Section 375 directed by Ajay Bahl takes up the issue very intelligently that triggers intellectual, emotional and, most importantly, legal response. Akshaye Khanna (as Tarun Saluja), as a renowned criminal lawyer, steals the show with his performance while other actors satisfactorily play their roles. As per the Section 375 of The Indian Penal Code rape occurs under the following circumstances -

    First. Against her will.
Secondly. Without her consent.
Thirdly. With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.
Fourthly. With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.
Fifthly. With her consent when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.
Sixthly. With or without her consent, when she is under eighteen years of age.
Seventhly. When she is unable to communicate consent.

(https://indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/2263?view_type=browse&sam_handle=123456789/1362)

The film largely revolves around the first two clauses which stresses on the will and consent of the victim. However, the plot is inclined to argue on the false rape charges that allegedly many women frame due to several legible or illegible reasons.

          The story is about a film director Rohan Khurana (Rahul Bhat) and his assistant costume designer Anjali Dangle (Meera Chopra). The latter accuses the former with rape charges. The gravity of situation rises because of the public outrage against the accused. In the Session's Court, the rape charges are confirmed and proved with evidences in favour of the prosecution. However, in the hands of 'learned' defence lawyer Tarun Saluja, the case takes a different turn in the High Court. Senior Advocate Saluja convinces the court with his investigation and observations that the rape never happened and the victim is playing foul with the court. With fiery and passionate prosecutor, Hiral Gandhi (Richa Chadha), the proceedings in the courtroom see-saw to highlight the loopholes in police investigation and limitations of law to deliver justice. The movie ends with law taking its course with the High Court upholding the Session Court's judgement sentencing the accused of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

          The tempo of the film during the trial scenes require patience to understand the intricate issues regarding the Section 375 and 376. Ajay Bahl, who has previously directed the movie B.A. Pass, is known for his ability to handle complex and controversial social issues. In the present film, he has taken a critical stance on the #Metoo movement and the incidents of false rape charges. He presents the beginning in such a way that creates a little doubt regarding Anjali's resistance to the sexual advances of her boss (Rohan Khurana) when she is in his flat to show the designed costumes. But in the courtroom the same incident is recited by Anjali where she asserts that she resisted a lot to stop him from molesting her. From that point on it starts becoming clear that the victim is misleading everyone and using the rape laws to take revenge on her boss with whom she was having an affair which ended in a mess.

          

          The message is clear that the laws can be misused and justice cannot be done always in all cases. Tarun Saluja mentions that the lawyers do not do business of justice but business of law. It is the law that stands supreme. The jurisprudential debate over the law and equity can be traced in the plot of Section 375. The trial scenes are shot beautifully and reflect the filmmaker's intent. However, I found a glitch in one scene where the defence lawyer plays a trick of playing a blank hard-drive containing the footage of sexual intimacy between Rohan Khurana and Anjali Dangle. That particular scene weakens the fabric of the trial scene sequences. And another lacuna cannot go unnoticed that there is no CCTV camera in the staircase of the residential complex where the said 'rape' happens!

          IPC Sections 376 entails punishment for rape and states that "whoever being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine" (ibid). Under this particular subsection [2(k)] of Section- 376 (including 375 & other IPC Sections), and Anjali Dangle's own statement, the accused Rohan Khurana is sentenced for 10 years of imprisonment in the film.

          Thus, in the end the film leaves us with questions to ask ourselves and the society that can strict laws stop rape? Or do such laws also carry the danger to be misused by women which are made to protect them? Well, you must watch the movie to understand the issue further and make your own judgement! I would give 4 stars out of five to this Ajay Bahl socio-legal flick.

Happy watching :)