INDIAN LEGAL SYSTEM

PROJECT WORK

Critical review of the movie “RUSTOM”

Subject supervisor: Prof.Deepti Khubalkar

Name of the student: Dheeraj Samanchi
B.A.LLB/Division ‘A’
Serial number: 4
Introduction:
The 2016 film directed by Vipul K Rawal “RUSTOM”, which was based
on the famous Nanavati case. I first want to ascent the point that this
movie was only made by the relevant facts of the case, but not the
cumulative case, because the movie does not counterpart the real
case.
Brief explanation of the story:
Coming to the movie Rustom Pavri (Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati) a
naval commander tried to the murder of Vikram Makhija (Prem
Ahuja) his wife Cynthia Pavri’s (Sylvia Nanavati) lover, which was
disserted in the movie to not to stimulate Cynthia Pavri character, in
the movie it was shown that Cynthia Pavri was influenced by Vikram
Makhija for an unconstitutional relationship for which she was
victimized as her husband being an naval commander stays far afield
from home for a long time.
This story is after his return from his last mission that is 27th April
1959, after his arrival Rustom unearths love letters from his friend
Vikram to his wife Cynthia after this emotional upset, trying to his
wife he sees her with Vikram, after her arrival he confronts with the
letters and leaves before she tries to reveal what has happened. He
goes undeviatingly to the ship’s armoury takes a gun and makes a
trunk call to defence HQ and goes hunting for Vikram first to his
office then to his home, after entering into his bedroom Vikram’s
retainer hears three shots upon coming into the he sees Vikram’s
body in a pool of blood and Rustom standing with a gun in his hand,
soon after this Rustom immediately surrenders to the police and
inspector Vincent Lobo starts investigating.
After this Vikram’s Sister Priti Makhija (Mamie Ahuja) rendezvous
with the public prosecutor Lakshman Khanghani to get Rustom the
toughest penance possible, in truth a local newspaper adding some
spice and proliferate the case, which made a stir in the city. On one
hand the navy supports its officer and asks to hand over his custody
and on another the Parsi community helps him by hiring a good
defence lawyer but Rustom refuses both of them and resolves to
deal the case himself and prefers police custody. While the local
newspaper has created a sympathy image for Rustom, Cynthia
wanted to speak with Rustom who hasn’t talked with Cynthia ever
since the confrontation but he came to an understanding and
listened to Cynthia while being in the police custody. She tells him
that how lonely she felt as he was away for months and how Vikram
used this loneliness as his upper hand and spelled her under his
control, soon after the court has initiated the session, Rustom
unexpectedly pleads not guilty in front of the court which leads the
court to form a nine member jury. After a series of trial the jury
concludes that he is not guilty under section 302, which made the
court affirm that Rustom Pavri is not guilty. This was one of cases
which played a pivotal role in the abolition of jury system, because
after this case was dismissed by the sessions court Mamie Ahuja
went to high court in 1961 which stated that Nanavati aka Rustom
Pavri guilty. Which concluded that no matter how wise the jury is
they are still human and a human can always be manipulated by
feelings and emotions.
In legal point of view:
This was shown in the movie but in the real time Nanavati case Sylvia
Nanavati aka Cynthia was in deep love with her husband friend prem
Ahuja aka Vikram Makhija as she wanted divorce from her husband
and marry prem, Nanavati went to prem and inquired him if he
would marry Sylvia for that prem replies that “would I have to marry
every women I have slept with” which provoked Nanavati which
made him shoot thrice on his chest killing him on the spot. Nanavati
wittily using his position as wronged husband and decorated naval
officer manipulates the jury to his favour but the High Court agreed
with the prosecution's argument that the murder was premeditated
and sentenced Nanavati to life imprisonment for culpable homicide
amounting to murder. On 24 November 1961, the Supreme Court of
India upheld the conviction. However Nanavati was pardoned by the
powers of the governor Vijayalakshmi Pandit sister of Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru who was dragged into this maelstrom. In the last
we can establish that a women’s sin of adultery lead to the abolition
of jury system in India.
Now comparing the Indian legal system before and after termination
of jury system in India, the Indian legal system of that time had many
flaws which lead to failure cases like Nanavati case, which
determined its fate. But now the judicial system of India has the
power to make decisions and also enforce the law, solve disputes.