The Trial Season 1 Review : This legal drama could have raised the bar much higher

Story: Based on the hit CBS show 'The Good Wife', 'Trial' is the story of Noyonika Sengupta (Kajol), whose husband is jailed because of a sex scandal. She then gets back to practicing law, but can she get her life back on track?

Review: Unlike most legal dramas, director Suparn Verma's 'The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha' deviates from the conventional portrayal of black coat sporting legal eagles unraveling intricate and captivating cases. Instead, it delves deep into the life of Noyonika Sengupta, a once accomplished lawyer, who embarks on a journey to resurrect her career following an unpleasant incident. Despite her prior acclaim, Noyonika finds herself relegated to the junior-most position in a prestigious law firm led by her friend, Vishal (Alyy Khan). As her husband’s high-profile case captures public attention, Noyonika grapples with the delicate balance between her personal and professional life.

Through the collaborative efforts of writers Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal, Siddharth Kumar, and director Suparn Verma, 'The Trial' offers a satirical and realistic portrayal of the current judicial system, the role of opinionated TV journalists, and the inner workings of a renowned Indian law firm. It unearths a very real battle of a privileged husband-wife duo inside the courtroom and their living room.

However, the narrative lacks the necessary depth and gravity to leave a lasting impression. Instead, the writing succumbs to clichés and stereotypes. What could have been a multi-layered and nuanced storyline is reduced to loosely based depictions of characters and situations mirroring real-life high-profile cases, such as the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput under mysterious circumstances, the vilification of his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, and Juhi Chawla's public interest litigation against 5G technology.

While these concurrent plotlines involving controversial cases unfold, the central focus of the show remains on Noyonika and her struggles. Kajol delivers an outstanding performance as the "good wife" who confronts her inner turmoil with resilience and dignity. The actress exudes elegance in a role befitting her age, finally receiving a substantial and well-crafted character she truly deserves. Kajol's restrained portrayal stands out as one of the show's highlights, complemented by commendable performances from Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Kubbra Sait, Kiran Kumar, Gaurav Pandey and former Femina Miss India Manasvi Mamgai, who bring the required gravitas to their respective roles.

While the story occasionally takes convenient turns as it progresses towards a predictable climax, the screenplay does contain a few shocking moments. However, with its brilliant starcast, this one could have raised the bar for such legal dramas much higher, making it a sharper and a more compelling watch. We rest our case.