PATNA SHUKLA: AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF RAVEENA TANDON’S LEGAL DRAMA

 

"Patna Shukla," a 2024 legal drama directed by Vivek Budakoti, dives deep into the issues of corruption in the education system and the patriarchal challenges women face. The film stars Raveena Tandon as Tanvi Shukla, a lawyer who takes on a case that exposes significant flaws in the academic administration and faces personal and professional hurdles along the way.

Plot and Themes

The movie's plot revolves around Tanvi Shukla, a lawyer who takes on the case of Rinki Kumari, a student who believes her exam results were tampered with due to a roll number swap. This case, which seems straightforward at first, unravels to reveal a larger web of corruption involving political candidate Raghubir Singh, played by Jatin Goswami (Hindustan Times)​​ (Flickonclick)​​ (India Today).

The film touches on multiple themes:

  1. Corruption in Education: It sheds light on how manipulation of exam results can drastically alter students' futures, highlighting the systemic corruption in the education sector.
  2. Patriarchy: Tanvi’s struggles against societal and familial expectations underscore the everyday challenges women face in patriarchal societies.
  3. Justice and Integrity: The narrative focuses on Tanvi’s relentless pursuit of justice despite numerous obstacles, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the legal profession (Hindustan Times)​​ (Flickonclick).

Performances

Raveena Tandon's performance as Tanvi Shukla has been highly praised. Critics have highlighted her ability to bring depth and authenticity to the character, making her struggles and triumphs relatable and inspiring (Hindustan Times)​​ (Flickonclick)​​ (India Today). Anushka Kaushik, playing Rinki Kumari, also delivers a strong performance, effectively portraying a determined student fighting against systemic corruption.



Direction and Script

Director Vivek Budakoti has received mixed reviews for his handling of the film. While the film's intention and message are clear and impactful, the execution has been critiqued for its inconsistencies. The script has been pointed out as a weak link, with some critics noting that it loses its grip at times and fails to maintain cohesion across subplots (India Today). The pacing is another area of concern, with some scenes dragging unnecessarily, which could have been avoided with tighter editing (Flickonclick)​​ (India Today).

Critical Reception

Overall, "Patna Shukla" has received a mix of positive and critical feedback:

  • Positive Aspects: The film's strong performances, especially by Raveena Tandon, and its exploration of pertinent social issues have been praised. The realistic portrayal of corruption in education and the struggles of women in patriarchal settings add significant value to the narrative (Hindustan Times)​​ (Flickonclick)​​ (India Today).
  • Critical Aspects: The primary criticisms focus on the script's lack of cohesion and the film's pacing. The film could have benefited from a more focused narrative and tighter editing. Some characters, like Raghubir Singh, could have been developed further to provide more depth to the story (India Today).

Conclusion

"Patna Shukla" stands out for its compelling lead performances and its engagement with critical social issues. While the film's narrative structure and pacing have their flaws, its core message and the strength of its characters make it a noteworthy film. For viewers interested in legal dramas that tackle real-world issues with earnest performances, "Patna Shukla" offers a thought-provoking experience (Hindustan Times)​​ (Flickonclick)​​ (India Today).


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