HASTE, PREJUDICE AND MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

In his doctrine espoused in 1769, English jurist Blackstone observed: ‘it’s better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer’ Miscarriage of justice is likely when adjudicators assess evidence with prejudiced minds or preconceived notions.

“ದಶಮುಖ” (‘Dashamukha’, which translates to: ‘Ten Faces’) is a 2012 Kannada film. The courtroom drama, penned by KV Raju, is inspired by the English film: ‘12 Angry Men’; it received more critical réclame than popular applause

The plot revolves around Agni (Chethan), who is the prime accused in a trial for the murder of his father. The judge (Ramesh Bhat) appoints ten prominent citizens as amici curiae to assist him in the adjudication process. The panel meets and deliberates over the guilt, or otherwise, of Agni, who has ocular and circumstantial evidence overwhelmingly against him in the case. Ravindranath (Ravichandran) is the only panelist who firmly thinks Agni is innocent.

So was it a fit of rage; or, a quirk of fate that got Agni to take his father’s life? And, does he get convicted?

That is the rest of the flick.

Director Ravi Srivatsa has attempted to commercially exploit an offbeat theme! The result is a reasonably good product, despite the infirmities and inconsistencies galore about criminal jurisprudence and judicial procedure in the narrative.

After a sputtering start, the film gathers momentum and grips intensely, courtesy: an interesting script laced with peppy dialogues to showcase friction and dissent among the characters.

The non-linear screenplay with multiple flashbacks makes for engrossing drama onscreen. After all, there is no greater drama in life than the Damocles’ Sword of death. The film though ends with stale, stereotyped stuff in its narrative. 

The camerawork features first-rate shot-composition. Sridhar V Sambhram and Sadhu Kokila have composed the film's run-of-the-mill score. The ensemble cast― it includes Kannada film world giants, like V Ravichandran, Anant Nag, Ramesh Bhat, Avinash, Devaraj, Malavika Avinash, HG Dattatreya, Ravi Kale, Achyuth Kumar and RN Sudarshan, besides Chethan Kumar and Aakanksha Mansukhani― has BRILLIANTLY portrayed its roles.

The flick is a stark reminder that ‘justice hurried is justice buried’; it also gets us to introspect over our justice delivery system and criminal investigation process.

I rate this courtroom drama: 7.0 on 10!