‘Court’ is a world cinema as it handles a global issue: Vira

*The National Award winning Marathi movie features city-based ‘Left Ambedkarite’ activist Vira Sathidar in lead role 

By Kartik Lokhande 

It was around 3.30 pm on Wednesday. Vira Sathidar was in the office of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) near Zero Mile in the city, when his mobile phone started ringing. It was a call from his wife Pushpa. He was surprised when Pushpa asked him, “What has happened? I have been getting too many calls...”  

“It was then that I came to know that our movie ‘Court’ had been nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars,” Vira told ‘The Hitavada’. Wednesday was an important day in the stupendous success story of the movie and Vira, a Nagpurian, who has made every other Nagpurian proud. Getting to know the news, Vira’s joy knew no bounds. “I am very happy to see that the movie that portrays struggle of a common man has now gone global as India’s official entry to the coveted awards,” he said. 

Sharing his joy, Vira said that he was confident of the success and acclaim of ‘Court’ to the extent of it getting nominated as India’s official entry to the Oscars. And, why not? The movie had already won the coveted National Award in the year 2014. The movie won its first award in Venice International Film Festival in November 2014. Since then, it has won wide acclaim at 19 national and international film festivals, and has won 16 awards. The film has to its kitty two coveted international awards -- Horizons Award for the Best Film and Lion of the Future Award for a Debut Film at Venice International Film Festival -- among others. New York-based Zeitgeist Films picked it up for distribution in the US. 

“The movie was destined to go global, as it deals with insensitivity of judicial system to the plight of common man. This is not only an Indian theme, but a global issue,” Vira observed. The movie is bound to attract more attention and limelight in days to come. Vira, who plays the protagonist Narayan Kamble in the film, realised this. However, he felt that the movie’s success should transcend the barriers of cinematic success and awards. “It should trigger a thought process over justice delivery system, which is very much the need of the hour. For, a common man still struggles to get a good lawyer. For, there are many under-trials who are languishing in jails though they have not been convicted. For, common man desires change in justice delivery system,” he said. 

And, what an achievement it has been for Vira at personal level. A man, who calls himself a ‘Left Ambedkarite’ activist, had never acted in a movie. As he had revealed to ‘The Hitavada’, a long-time friend Susan Abraham had suggested Vira’s name to the producer, director, and casting director of the movie ‘Court’. And, Vira made the debut in movies. He portrayed the lead role of Narayan Kamble in the widely acclaimed movie.  

Vira gives due credit to producer Vivek Gomber, director Chaitanya Tamhane, and entire team of dedicated youngsters for their fine detailing and minute observations that made the movie such a powerful narration of loopholes in justice system. In fact, Vira’s activist background helped him get into the skin of the role of activist Narayan Kamble instantly and easily.  

Vira’s original name is Vijay Ramdas (ViRa) Vairagade. He later changed it to Viplav (revolution) Rauf (revolutionary leader), a distinctive mark of his rebellious nature. He worked with Dalit Panther, CPI-ML (Liberation), and now is working as full-time worker of Republican Panther. He lives with his mother Gangubai, wife Pushpa who is Anganwadi Sevika at village Parsodi, son Ravan (also called Lankesh) who does a private job. 

The story of Vira’s life so far also is akin to a movie. He is a farmer’s son who grazed cows, completed education up to Class X; worked as a factory worker, construction labourer, volunteer with an NGO, devoted time to social movements, sold and wrote books. And, now, he is an actor winning national and international acclaim for his stellar performance as protagonist in ‘Court’, which won National Award for the best feature film for the year 2014. An humble Vira Sathidar lives in a rented house full of books, in a narrow lane of Trisharan Nagar (Rameshwari). Since he shot to fame, his house also has attracted all the fame. 

(23-09-15)