Ram Jagadish: Court is Inspired by Cases, But a Work of Fiction

Ram Jagadish is making his directorial debut with Court: State Vs A Nobody, featuring Priyadarshi in the lead role. Actor Nani, along with Prashanthi Tipirneni, is producing the film. The movie will be released tomorrow (March 14) and ahead of the release, the director shared his thoughts about the project. Ram Jagadish previously worked as an assistant director on Urvashi Rakshasivo and Ra Ra Krishnayya. He also made a short film that won him an award.
Speaking about Court, he revealed that the film’s backdrop revolves around the POCSO Act. “I came across a real case, and after reading about it, I became curious and started researching further. There are similar cases in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that I wanted to address on screen. I studied multiple case files before crafting the story,” he said.
However, he clarified that the film is not based on any specific individual or real-life incident. “I was inspired by many cases, but I wrote a completely fictional story. To ensure authenticity, I thoroughly studied the POCSO Act and consulted police officials, court authorities, and legal experts,” the director added.
When asked what makes his film different from other courtroom dramas, Ram Jagadish pointed to its unique romantic subplot. “In my film, there is also a love story, which I believe is a first in the courtroom drama genre,” he said. The director also shared how long he waited to narrate the story to Nani. “I waited nearly eight months to get a chance to narrate my story to Nani. When the moment finally came, I presented it for two and a half hours and he patiently listened. Once I finished, he simply said, ‘Welcome to Wall Poster Cinema.’ That was a huge moment for me,” he recalled.
He further explained that many people are unaware of the POCSO Act, which is why he wanted to explore it in-depth through this film.
Roshan and Sridevi play the lead roles in the film. “We held auditions before finalizing these actors. Roshan, who plays Chandu, worked extremely hard for the role. For Jabilli’s character, we struggled to find the right actress. We needed a Telugu-speaking newcomer with a passion for acting. After an extensive search, a friend of mine sent me Sridevi’s Instagram profile, and I immediately felt she was perfect for the role,” he shared.
After auditioning her, he was convinced she was the ideal choice for Jabilli. Actor Priyadarshi shares a close bond with Ram Jagadish. “I shared everything with him. When I first told him about this story, he instantly wanted to be a part of it and even asked me not to narrate it to anyone else. That’s how he came on board,” the director revealed.
Sivaji also plays a crucial role in the film. “His character is something everyone will relate to because we all have someone like him in our families,” he added.
Ram Jagadish believes Court is a film that will connect with all audiences. “This story belongs to everyone, and people should watch it to reflect on their own lives,” he said.
He also shared Nani’s reaction after watching the film. “He told me, ‘I am proud of you, Jagadish,’ which was the best compliment I have ever received,” he concluded.