We have often heard it argued that it is not the lack of laws but the lack of proper implementation that is the real plague of the judicial system. The argument is not without its flaws, but currently, the movie Sirf Ek Banda Hi Kaafi Hai follows this notion with admirable execution. The title literally translates to “just one man is enough,” and true to its title, it is about how one man in a strategic position wins against all odds just because he knows his facts. We are so used to seeing larger-than-life figures triumph against impossible circumstances by using magical words, unusual tactics, or simply over-the-top heroism, that we often forget about the efficacy of grounded logic and basic fact-checking. Some people might think that it was a little too convenient that the lawyer, PC Solanki, kept winning every round, but we cannot express how happy that made us. For once, it was nice to see justice carried out without unnecessary hitches. We wanted to see some smooth sailing, and this felt like the best fantasy that could ever be. Here is a detailed recap of Sirf Ek Banda Hi Kaafi Hai.
Spoilers Alert
How Does Pc Solanki Fight The Case?
Nu, a 16-year-old girl, was sexually assaulted by a godman, and she has him arrested immediately. When the case goes to court, the family discovers that the lawyer they have hired to fight the case is corrupt and is working against them. Not knowing what to do, they turn to the police, and one of the officers recommends a particular lawyer to them who is an expert on POCSO, which is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act. He agrees to take up the case pro bono and warns his clients that the entire world is going to be against them going forward since they have taken action against a religious figure. We are spared that side of the story in this movie, and honestly, we prefer that. We see enough of that in other stories, in the newspapers, and sometimes in our own homes because cases like Nu’s are, sadly, not uncommon.
In the courtroom, there is an effort by the defense to get the charges under POCSO removed by saying that Nu was not a minor when the sexual assault happened. But Solanki is easily able to prove that the evidence brought in favor of that claim is fabricated. Solanki is a man who has done his homework, and he makes the job look so effortless that we just know that many people are going to incorrectly assume that it is easy.
Haven’t we all heard that we should never meet our heroes because that will knock away the delusion of their grandeur? It turns out that Solanki did the deed himself. During the case proceedings, two of India’s most famous lawyers are brought in to fight on behalf of the Godman on two different occasions. Solanki is awe-struck both times, and he is clearly a fanboy. Yet he sees the human error in their arguments. He counters their manipulation with simple facts each time and gets his way. At the beginning of the movie, Solanki says that he could not afford to lose even a single hearing, as that would mean that the Godman would get bail and he would escape from the country. These are the exact attempts that Solanki has thwarted, for which the said famous lawyers were hired by the Godman’s team.
There is also an attempt to discredit the victim’s statement, as it often happens in such cases. But Solanki has prepared the girl for it by telling her beforehand about the kind of questions she would be subjected to. Throughout the proceedings, luckily, the judge has been on Solanki’s side, which has helped her cause. Imagine the case’s plight if the judge were someone who would sacrifice objectivity in favor of his personal opinions, as often happens in Indian courts. Either way, Nu is able to put a confident foot forward. The defense tries to poke holes in her testimony and argues that it cannot be believed since there are no other witnesses, ignoring that they have all been murdered one by one. Solanki simply states how it is a precedent set by the Supreme Court that the victim’s statement is proof enough if she is able to convince the court of its truth, which Nu has done.
How Did Solanki Prove The Godman’s Guilt?
Throughout this time, Solanki’s personal life has also been affected. He is afraid for his life, and if we are being honest, we don’t understand why the Godman’s team did not attempt to kill him. They would have easily gotten away with it, and their case would have seen a better result in court. We guess it is an extension of the fantasy of this movie, and we don’t mind it at all. But at one point, Solanki does believe that his son has been kidnapped when he is arguing against the Godman being sent abroad for medical treatment. Solanki wins that round, and it turns out that his son is also safe. He was just playing hooky with his friends. But that night, Solanki thrashes his son for his careless act. His perfect skills in the courtroom come in the way of his being a perfect father.
As the last day of the hearing approaches, Solanki is aware of how much depends on him. In court, it is argued that the Godman should be spared since he runs a lot of charitable institutions and is a religious figure. But Solanki counters it by telling the court about the kind of precedent it would set for the women in the country and about the accountability of powerful men over their lives. We wish he had said that more explicitly instead of quoting scripture, but we will take that as the one flaw of this movie. At the end of Sirf Ek Banda Hi Kaafi Hai, the Godman is sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes, and justice is served, with Solanki returning home to triumphant celebrations.
Final Thoughts
Of course, there is an element of fantasy to Sirf Ek Banda Hi Kaafi Hai, and that is how easy it was for Solanki to get through the case. We are unable to believe that nobody tried to kill him, actually kidnap his son, or even threaten them. But we are glad that we saw none of that. We need to see more of such fantasies on screen instead of fairy tales. On the other hand, we always love a family man on a scooter, and Manoj Bajpayee has all our hearts. Though the tone of the conclusion gets a little more dramatic than the rest of the movie, it was an overall enjoyable watch that we would recommend to more people. Watch it for Manoj Bajpayee, if nothing else, because this man is simply not busy enough for our liking, and we are going to manifest that change.
