Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Siddharth P Malhotra, Netflix’s ‘Ikka’ follows Arjun Mehra, a celebrated lawyer better known by his nickname “Ikka,” as he is faced with the most difficult case of his life to date. The accused, Shouryamann Gaur, is not only the son of a wealthy industrialist and politician, but also an ex-lawyer who once worked under Arjun. Shouryamann is the prime suspect in the attempted murder of Soma Mittal, and as the case proceeds, it soon becomes apparent that there are entire layers of truth that neither the prosecution nor the defense has been made privy to. Throughout, this Hindi-language legal thriller movie directs its questions towards the individual just as much as towards humanity as a whole.
Ikka is a Work of Fiction That Draws Out All Shades of Society in a Courtroom Setting
‘Ikka’ is a fictional story penned by writers Althea Kaushal and Mayank Tewari, with no direct connection to any real-life case or investigation. While the fictional trial of Shouryamann Gaur takes center stage throughout the movie, the details of the case have been invented from the ground up. In general, the plot seems to follow the outline for legal drama that has been seen in many films of this genre before, including acclaimed titles such as ‘Jolly LLB’ and ‘Pink.’ Much like these classic films, the premise of the Netflix production brings forth a person from a wealthy background, who is accused of committing a heinous crime, following which the case becomes the basis for a larger commentary on the class divide and its intersection with the justice system.
In the case of ‘Ikka,’ the main plot is most likely constructed with the same creative template in mind, with the writing team adding their own emotional twist to the mix with the dynamic between Shouryamann Gaur and lawyer Arjun Mehra. In conversation with Netflix, director Siddharth P Malhotra revealed that ‘Ikka’ is among the first stories he wanted to tell on the big screen when he started his journey. He explained, “As a storyteller, I’m always looking for stories that challenge me emotionally and creatively, and IKKA has been one such journey,” adding, “I’ve always been a huge fan of courtroom dramas, and this is a subject that has been incredibly close to my heart for many years.”
For Malhotra, the appeal of a courtroom narrative lies in its ability to bring together macroscopic social commentary as well as stories of deeply personal dilemmas. With ‘Ikka,’ his intention was to amp up the focus on the relationships between characters, and that is felt in the script and on screen. While the story of the movie may be invented, it originates from the creative interests and research of the writing team, and that attention to detail can be felt in every little detail.
The Story of Ikka Draws Loose Parallels to a Real-Life Murder Case
One Indian legal thriller that ‘Ikka’ seems particularly reminiscent of is ‘No One Killed Jessica,’ helmed by director Raj Kumar Gupta. The similarities between the two are largely thematic, as both feature piercing commentaries on justice for women in the face of a class divide and an increasingly complex legal process. Notably, ‘No One Killed Jessica’ is based on the real-life Jessica Lal murder case, which sent shockwaves through the nation and continues to leave an impact on public consciousness. Jessica Lal, an aspiring model and celebrity bar attendant working in Delhi, was murdered in the early hours of April 30, 1999, by Manu Sharma, the son of Venod Sharma, a former Member of Parliament.
In the aftermath of the first trial, which spanned seven years, Manu and eight other accused were acquitted, on the account that a number of witnesses allegedly turned hostile. The court’s verdict was met with a huge public uproar and criticism, and following pressure from the public and the media, the case was appealed to the Delhi High Court, where the trial court’s judgment was then overturned. Manu Sharma was convicted of murder on December 20, 2006, and was later released after 14 years, on June 2, 2020, on the grounds of good behavior. Given that director Siddharth P Malhotra has not commented on any potential overlaps between the plot of ‘Ikka’ and the Jessica Lal murder case, these similarities are likely coincidental in nature. Malhotra’s use of fiction to shine a light on a sensitive and eternally relevant subject matter is what ultimately makes the film potent.
Read More: Ikka Ending Explained: Did Shouryamann Kill Soma?
