May 23, 2026 8:00pm IST
‘System’ Review: Jyotika Steals the Show in This Slow Burn Courtroom Thriller
Courtroom dramas make for compelling storytelling. The verdict almost becomes secondary if you have a gripping case, worthy opponents and a premise that makes the audience feel like they're part of the jury. In Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s unconventional take on the genre, the real intrigue lies not in the final judgment but in the two women at its centre, Neha (Sonakshi Sinha) and Sarika (Jyotika), who constantly turn the tables on each other in the most unexpected ways.
These are no ordinary women. Neha’s privilege and lineage work against her when her father Ravi Rajvansh (Ashutosh Gowariker), a celebrated lawyer who prides himself on rarely losing a case, throws down a challenge. “Win 10 cases and come back to me if you want to join the firm as partner,” he tells her. Neha accepts, unaware that the final case in the journey will shake her to the core.
Sarika, a stenographer in the courtroom, plays a pivotal role in driving the film’s twists and revelations. Written by Tasneem Lokhandwala, Harman Baweja, Arun Sukumar and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, “System” is not your typical courtroom drama. It unfolds patiently, rewarding viewers willing to sit with its layers. While the women drive the narrative, the men around them - especially Neha’s father and Sarika’s lover - add emotional complexity and meaningfully shape the story's direction.
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The film constantly throws moral questions at the audience as you weigh the choices made by its protagonists. Ambition, infidelity and deceit form the emotional backbone of these characters. The strongest moments come from the scenes between Jyotika and Sonakshi as they cautiously navigate each other’s intentions while figuring out their next move. From their first meeting to their final exchange, their evolving friendship is thoughtfully written and beautifully paced. Ashwiny allows that relationship the room to breathe, deepen and ultimately land where it needs to.
Sarika’s life and decisions remain entirely her own. There are moments when you question her choices and that tension works in the film’s favour because throughout “System,” you will constantly find yourself switching sides. The father-daughter relationship is another major highlight. Ashutosh Gowariker is wonderfully restrained here, never slipping into melodrama and keeping his performance grounded.
Jyotika is particularly terrific. Sitting upright with steely precision, silently mouthing the judgments as she types them out, she conveys the weight of a courtroom long before the verdict is spoken aloud. Her scenes with her husband and daughter add warmth and humanity to the film. Sonakshi, meanwhile, gets some of the film’s biggest courtroom moments and handles them with confidence and conviction.
Where “System” falters is in some of the packaging that feels dictated by the demands of the platform. A song celebrating female bonding feels unnecessary and slows the narrative. Some members of the supporting cast appear to exist mainly to offer convenient assistance to the protagonists rather than serving a deeper purpose.
What the film ultimately delivers, though, is an emotionally satisfying climax that earns its payoff. “System” may not always play by the rules of a conventional courtroom drama, but that unpredictability becomes its biggest strength. And if there is one verdict the film leaves you with, it is this: someone really needs to cast Jyotika more often because she is in absolute top form here.
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